‘Future of Privacy Forum’ has pushed legislation mirroring Biden AI and European-style regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is demanding answers from the woke AI nonprofit, Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), over its having used federal grant money to advocate for states to adopt left-wing AI laws. Sen. Cruz raises concerns about the group’s naked advocacy for AI regulations aligned with the Biden administration’s political agenda, such as policing speech and embedding DEI principles in AI code. He is also reviewing FPF’s federal grants amid concerns that the organization attempted to obscure its support for Biden’s AI regulatory agenda.

FPF was a key player in the creation of a bill introduced in the Texas state legislature called the Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA). The original bill mirrored strict EU-style AI regulations, such as a pre-approval testing mandate before AI could be used and adopting so-called “safety” standards that aligned with Biden-era censorship around race and gender. As initially written, TRAIGA would have imposed broad liability on AI developers, creating a regulatory framework for so-called “algorithmic discrimination” and bias.

This heavy-handed approach to AI regulation would drive up compliance costs on all businesses using AI, increase the price for American consumers who use AI, and stifle economic growth and innovation. In contrast, Sen. Cruz has called for allowing AI to continue innovating, which will create more high-paying jobs, improve software, and make every day tasks easier.

Sen. Cruz writes to FPF CEO Jules Polonetsky:?

“As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Committee), I write regarding the Future of Privacy Forum’s (FPF) support of the now-rescinded, Biden-era Executive Order on the “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” (AI Executive Order). In particular, I am seeking information about FPF’s use of grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE) to help federal agencies ‘support the equitable use of AI’ and to convene ‘diverse experts’ and ‘key stakeholders.’

“FPF bills itself as a mediator that brings together thought leaders to address challenges posed by technology. That doesn’t mean it lacks a point of view. FPF has submitted public comments to the Federal Communications Commission on AI telephone call detection, the Department of Transportation on the impact of AI on transportation, the Federal Election Commission on the use of AI in political ads, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on AI and privacy impact assessments, the Federal Trade Commission on proposed amendments to the trade regulation rule on impersonation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on standards, tools, and practices for detecting and labeling synthetic content. FPF has promoted efforts to incorporate DEI principles into AI-enabled technologies, supported so-called ‘gender-affirming care,’ and advocated for new state laws that address so-called AI bias and discrimination with the goal of preventing ‘catastrophic events.’

“During the Biden administration, FPF focused on convincing federal regulators to implement an AI ‘safety’ agenda. In February 2024, for example, FPF received the aforementioned grants from NSF and DOE to help federal agencies ‘support the equitable use of AI’ and to convene AI pundits. FPF did convene them—at the White House Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In addition, FPF became a member of the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium at NIST, which tasked members with promoting AI ‘fairness’ and building so-called ‘trustworthy and responsible AI.’ In reality, the aim was to allow the Biden administration to build a regulatory framework that could be used for policing speech considered objectionable by left-wing arbiters.  

“Now it appears FPF is attempting to hide its work in support of former President Biden’s AI Executive Order. Upon receiving federal taxpayer money in February 2024, the organization issued a press release titled ‘FPF Awarded NSF and DOE Grants to Advance White House Executive Order of Artificial Intelligence.’ In the release, FPF explained its work to reduce AI risks to ‘marginalized and vulnerable group’ and praised the administration for prioritizing ‘equity principles in AI-enabled technologies.’ A year later, President Trump signed executive orders rescinding the Biden administration’s AI Executive Order and directing federal agencies to terminate all ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts. Shortly thereafter, FPF discreetly updated its website to erase its past support of the Biden AI Executive Order. In Orwellian fashion, FPF changed the title of its February 2024 press release to ‘FPF Awarded DOE and NSF Grants to Advance Privacy Enhancing Technologies & AI.’ Gone are references to equity principles, raising questions about FPF’s apparent repurposing, or worse, rebranding of Biden-era equity awards.

“More recently, FPF has focused on state efforts, presenting its Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group (MAP-WG), a national network of state lawmakers who worked on model AI legislation ahead of 2025 legislative sessions, as a ‘neutral facilitator’ for AI. Legislators on the MAP-WG Steering committee introduced AI legislation in states like Connecticut to address FPF priorities like disparate impact and discrimination, and lawmakers from 32 states signed an op-ed calling for state-level AI legislation and highlighting legislative trends influenced by FPF.

“Last month, however, FPF announced it would discontinue its work supporting the MAP-WG because it did not want supposed ‘misperceptions’ about the group ‘to create any misperceptions about the larger mission of FPF.’ One wonders whether FPF’s decision to discontinue this work is linked to the Trump administration’s executive order, and to what extent the NSF and DOE grant funding awarded under Biden influenced FPF’s state advocacy efforts.”

Read full letter HERE.

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