US Lawmaker Proposes Bipartisan AI Bill Targeting Deepfakes and Whistleblower Protections

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) has introduced a new legislative measure aimed at establishing initial guardrails for artificial intelligence, specifically targeting the proliferation of deepfakes and the protection of industry whistleblowers. The bill is designed as a foundational step in AI regulation, prioritizing areas of broad agreement to ensure legislative progress within the current term. The proposal emerges from the recommendations of a bipartisan House Task Force on AI, co-led by Lieu and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.). By focusing on non-controversial elements, the bill aims to secure a legislative win without triggering the intense debates associated with broader AI governance and systemic oversight. Key provisions of the bill include strict crackdowns on the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated images and enhanced legal protections for individuals reporting AI safety risks or regulatory violations. Additionally, the legislation mandates U.S. involvement in international bodies setting technical AI standards and proposes a prize competition to incentivize groundbreaking research and development. To maintain bipartisan momentum, the bill intentionally excludes high-friction topics, such as whether federal standards should override existing state-level AI laws or the implementation of mandatory testing for AI used in education and critical infrastructure. While Rep. Obernolte supports this measure, he is simultaneously developing a separate AI package expected later this year, both of which build upon the task force's initial findings.