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AI Law Wiki News for September 20, 2026

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NPR examines industry influence on state chatbot laws

NPR reported on September 18, 2026 that Google helped shape state chatbot-safety legislation, drawing criticism over exemptions and limits on liability. Hawaii legislator Trish La Chica told NPR that Google supplied draft language she declined to sponsor. Google said it collaborates on legislation to protect consumers and support innovation. Healthier Colorado defended its stakeholder process and described Colorado’s law as a starting point for further protections.[1]

The enacted text of Iowa SF 2417 illustrates the scope questions: it excludes certain embedded features, customer-service tools and voice assistants from its conversational-AI definition. Section 6 also limits model-developer liability based solely on a third party’s use of the model; section 7 sets July 1, 2027 applicability.[2]

Pritzker urges federal AI safeguards and international cooperation

In an ABC interview aired September 20, 2026, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker urged national AI safeguards and cooperation with allies, arguing that state-by-state action was insufficient. He called regulation a congressional priority and favored managing risks over an outright superintelligence ban.[3] WBBM separately reported his September 18 appeal for Congress to follow Illinois’ frontier-AI safety law.[4]

At Apple Park in California, in remarks published September 20, 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia’s planned AI standards would protect intellectual property and emphasized creators’ control and remuneration. He also called for an international framework to manage AI risks.[5] ABC reported that he left an opt-out copyright model open for discussion and would raise global AI rules with leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.[6]

Federal Register removes Qwen search tool amid policy scrutiny

Ars Technica reported on September 18, 2026 that the Federal Register website removed an Alibaba Qwen search option on September 16.[7][8] The deployment raised federal AI-sourcing questions against the agencies’ earlier model-distillation warning.[9] Experts interviewed by Reuters emphasized deployment and data handling when assessing security risks.[8]

California extends candidate deepfake safeguards through 2030

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 686 on September 19, 2026, extending the sunset of California’s candidate deepfake safeguards from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2031. The framework covers malicious distribution of materially deceptive candidate audio or visual media within 60 days of an election, with a disclosure exception and specified exemptions. The same signing package included AB 502, which modifies rules for materially deceptive election communications.[10][11][12]

Khanna calls for an independent federal AI regulator

On September 20, 2026, Representative Ro Khanna called for an independent federal AI regulator modeled on the FDA, with technical experts overseeing safety. In his CBS interview, he also advocated an international agreement with China covering basic standards, monitoring and data-center checks. His proposals add to the debate over federal oversight and international safeguards.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ Katie McQue, NPR via WXXI News, “Google is helping write AI chatbot safety laws — while pushing for loopholes,” September 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ Iowa Acts, chapter 1068 (SF 2417), approved May 2, 2026, sections 1, 6 and 7.
  3. ↑ ABC News, “This Week” interview transcript, September 20, 2026.
  4. ↑ Sarah Herrera, WBBM Newsradio, “Pritzker wants Washington to follow Illinois on AI rules,” September 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ Prime Minister of Australia, “Press conference — Apple Park, California,” published September 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Jane Norman, ABC News (Australia), “PM urges US and China to strike deal over AI’s rapid development,” September 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, “US government website used Chinese model the FBI called malicious,” September 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Courtney Rozen, Reuters via MarketScreener, “US government website used AI search tool from China that FBI said copied Anthropic,” September 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ NSA, “NSA and Others Warn China-Based AI Companies are Distilling U.S. Frontier AI Models,” September 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ Governor of California, election bill signing announcement, September 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ California Legislature, AB 686, enrolled September 3, 2026, sections 1–4.
  12. ↑ California Legislature, AB 686 status: approved and chaptered September 19, 2026, Chapter 334.
  13. ↑ CBS News, Face the Nation interview transcript, September 20, 2026.
  14. ↑ Ryan Mancini, The Hill via AOL, “Khanna calls for a government agency to oversee AI ‘like the FDA’,” September 20, 2026.

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