Statement from the National Consumers League on AI moratorium deal 

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) today voiced strong opposition to the reported amendment to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” imposing a five-year moratorium on state and local regulation of artificial intelligence systems. The deal, if enacted, would amount to a sweeping federal preemption of popular and long-standing consumer protection laws, ranging from robocall restrictions to children’s online safety, privacy rights, and protections from discriminatory AI applications. 

“This amendment is a gift to Big Tech at the expense of everyday consumers,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at NCL. “By preempting vital state laws—many of which have protected consumers from robocalls, deceptive marketing, and data misuse for decades—Congress would be tying the hands of state lawmakers and attorneys general just as AI technologies are becoming more embedded in our daily lives. It won’t just block new consumer protections—it will gut existing ones.” 

Despite language that purports to preserve “generally applicable” laws, the moratorium’s vague exemptions could preempt nearly any regulation applicable to automated decision-making systems—including those widely used in telemarketing, online platforms, and political advertising. 

NCL urges lawmakers to reject this overbroad provision and stand with consumers, not tech monopolies. 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.