A shadow play is unfolding in the halls of power. After a crushing defeat in the Senate, powerful technology corporations are attempting a stealth maneuver – embedding a sweeping corporate giveaway within critical national security legislation. Their target: the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill meant to protect America, now potentially hijacked for a decade-long AI free-for-all.
This isn’t a new tactic. Similar attempts were made just months ago, and the fallback plan involves other essential bills or even legally dubious executive actions. Led by familiar figures, the push aims for a federal takeover of AI development, but with a chilling omission: virtually no rules or safeguards. They call it “federal preemption,” but without federal rules, it’s simply amnesty.
Amnesty for trillion-dollar monopolies that have systematically stifled competition, silenced dissenting voices, and put vulnerable populations at risk. Why the secrecy? Why avoid open debate and direct votes? Because these corporations understand a simple truth: the American public would overwhelmingly reject this proposal if fully informed.
The history of Section 230 offers a stark warning. This legal shield, intended to foster online innovation, was exploited by tech giants to censor, manipulate, and build a vast surveillance network. Now, they seek the same immunity for AI, but on a far grander and more dangerous scale.
This “AI amnesty” would strip states of their ability to protect citizens, eliminating local safeguards and federal oversight. It would create a regulatory vacuum, a playground for unchecked corporate power to exploit American creativity, censor speech, and experiment with potentially harmful AI tools, all while shifting the energy burden onto working families.
The claim that this is necessary to compete with China is a cynical distortion. These same companies, while hindering American defense programs, actively aided China’s censorship efforts. Google, for example, abandoned a U.S. military drone AI project while simultaneously developing a censorship system for the Chinese Communist Party. Their loyalty lies not with America, but with profit.
Their true objective is to plunder America’s creative economy. They want to freely train their AI models on copyrighted works, enriching themselves without compensating the creators who built this nation’s cultural landscape. They envision a future where originality is replaced by automated imitation, and Congress is asked to endorse it.
Fortunately, a strong voice has emerged to challenge this power grab. When pressured to concede to AI amnesty, one leader stood firm, refusing to betray the American people to Silicon Valley. That courage was instrumental in halting the previous attempt, delivering a resounding 99-1 defeat.
The American people recognize the inherent dangers. They understand that Big Tech cannot be trusted with their data, their elections, or the future of artificial intelligence. The notion of “stealing like China” to compete with China is a fallacy, and becoming digital sharecroppers on our own land is unacceptable.
If Congress insists on pursuing federal preemption, it must be done transparently, with public hearings, open debate, and direct votes. Any legislation must prioritize the protection of those historically targeted by Big Tech: conservatives, children, creators, and communities – the “Four Cs.”
Conservatives deserve protection from decades of censorship. Children must be shielded from predatory AI systems, including those that have offered harmful advice. Creators require safeguards against rampant copyright theft. And communities need protection from the environmental and economic burdens of massive data centers.
These are not radical demands, but fundamental principles of a free society. Yet, Big Tech claims that any safeguards will stifle innovation or harm national security. These arguments are disingenuous and deeply insulting.
These corporations believe they can buy influence, hide behind national security rhetoric, and bully America into submission. They underestimated the power of a united opposition last time, and they will be defeated again. But only if Congress hears the resounding message: No AI amnesty, in any form.
Having spent vast sums attempting to influence past elections, these tech oligarchs seek to silence opposition and exploit the nation. Granting them AI amnesty would only empower them to continue their harmful practices – censoring conservatives, endangering children, and exploiting communities.
They can defend their proposals openly, answer for their actions, and compete fairly. Congress must reject any attempt to sneak this corporate giveaway into legislation or enact it through executive action. There are no shortcuts, no compromises, and no surrender.
The stakes are too high, the consequences too grave, and the American people are watching. The answer must be a resounding “No” to AI amnesty. Protect our children, protect our creators, protect our communities, and protect our country.
