The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, is currently investigating potential censorship of artificial intelligence by the Biden administration. Representative Jim Jordan recently issued subpoenas to sixteen tech companies involved in AI to retrieve any communications related to restricting “harmful bias” and “algorithmic discrimination” during the previous administration’s term.
- Subpoenas Sent to Various Tech Companies:
- Adobe
- Alphabet
- Amazon
- Anthropic
- Apple
- Cohere
- International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)
- Infection AI
- Meta
- Microsoft
- Nvidia
- Open AI
- Palantir
- Salesforce
- Scales to
- Stability AI
These subpoenas span a five-year period from January 1, 2020, to January 20, 2025, and request all documents mentioning the moderation, deletion, suppression, or restriction of AI content. The aim is to uncover any communications between the tech companies and the previous administration, internal discussions on censorship, or dialogues with external parties.
Representative Jordan and the committee suggest that the former President’s executive order on algorithmic discrimination and AI regulations may have coerced private companies into censoring speech. By examining historical records and communications, they hope to establish a connection between government directives and corporate actions.
This move to scrutinize tech companies is not novel for Jordan. He recently subpoenaed Google for distinct censorship concerns, and has a history of summoning tech CEOs to testify on moderation issues. However, the current investigation marks a shift, as even companies like Adobe and Nvidia, not primarily involved in speech platforms, are being brought into the fold.
In conclusion, the House Judiciary Committee’s inquiry into potential AI censorship highlights the complex interplay between government regulation, private enterprises, and freedom of speech. As the investigation unfolds, it underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
