Capitol News

Michigan State University's "Ask the Experts: 2024 Election Issues" series has focused on technology regulation, highlighting the differences between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies into daily life has raised questions about regulation, with both candidates facing pressure to address these issues.

Anjana Susarla, the Omura-Saxena Professor of Responsible AI at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, discussed how Trump and Harris could approach technology regulation differently. She noted that there are significant differences in their approaches to AI policy. "One area where there are stark differences between the candidates is when it comes to recognizing and addressing algorithmic harms from the widespread use of AI technology," Susarla said.

At the AI Safety Summit in November 2023, Harris addressed issues like algorithmic bias and deepfakes. Meanwhile, President Biden signed an executive order acknowledging risks posed by AI systems. In contrast, Trump's administration did not publicly address algorithmic harms but expressed concerns about deepfakes and security challenges posed by AI.

Regarding regulation actions taken by each administration, Susarla pointed out that Trump signed the American AI Initiative executive order in 2019 to promote trustworthy AI within the federal government. On the other hand, Harris convened tech company leaders in May 2023 for voluntary commitments to safeguard individual rights under Biden's administration.

Antitrust enforcement also shows differing approaches. The Trump administration attempted to block AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner and filed a case against Google for internet search dominance. Conversely, Biden signed an executive order targeting anticompetitive practices of dominant internet platforms and filed cases against Apple and Google.

In terms of cryptocurrency regulation, late in his administration, Trump supported regulatory measures but later advocated for U.S. leadership in Bitcoin. His campaign was also first to accept cryptocurrency payments. The Biden-Harris administration has imposed restrictions through enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Data privacy remains a critical issue with a lack of comprehensive federal legislation. While Biden's executive order calls for privacy legislation adoption by Congress, Trump's American AI Initiative mentioned privacy broadly without detailing enforcement mechanisms.

Overall, Susarla suggests that while both administrations have pursued antitrust cases, Biden's efforts appear more aligned with reining in technology companies and protecting consumers.