AI regulation may implicate the First Amendment. While the First Amendment protections afforded to AI models, companies, and users are uncertain, any regulatory scheme must contemplate First Amendment litigation risk before these questions reach a court.
About the project
Restrictions on speech may face strict scrutiny, meaning that they must be narrowly tailored to fit a compelling governmental interest.
AI regulation is likely coming, and a range of proposed models include export controls, FAA-style licensing, FINRA, and even the Defense Production Act. In this project, you will scope which regulatory models are most likely to survive litigation on First Amendment grounds alone.
Theory of change
This project is meant to decrease the litigation risk of regulatory models, especially those relying on prior restraint.
Political will is not the only barrier to strong regulation. The legislation must also be drafted to comply with the Constitution. This project is designed to maximize the chance that it does.
Your role
Mentees will work in a team to address specific challenges to regulation on First Amendment grounds.
Prerequisites
- Legal Experience
- Understanding of AI safety fundamentals and threat models
Application question(s)
What experience do you have with First Amendment law, civil liberties, Constitutional law, or freedom of speech?
Which First Amendment protections do you expect could be applied to AI models?
About the mentor
Alex is currently a research fellow with Cambridge ERA:AI. Previously, he was a research fellow with the Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative. Before pivoting to AI safety, he was a public defender in Los Angeles County and later a housing attorney with Greater Boston Legal Services.