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AI Law Wiki News for April 21, 2026

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Colorado HB26 1263 Conversational AI

Colorado House Bill 26-1263, the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Service Operator Requirements act, passed the Colorado House of Representatives on April 21, 2026, by a bipartisan 40-24 vote (1 excused) and now awaits Senate consideration.[1][2][3]

The bill establishes comprehensive requirements for operators of conversational AI services — publicly accessible AI systems that simulate human conversation via text, visuals, or audio — with particular focus on protecting minor users from harm, including sexual content and emotional dependence.[1]

Key Provisions

Effective January 1, 2027, the bill requires conversational AI operators to:[1]

  • Prohibit points or rewards that encourage minor engagement with the service
  • Implement reasonable, technically feasible measures to prevent the service from producing sexually explicit content for minor account holders or minor users
  • Implement reasonable, technically feasible measures to block outputs simulating emotional dependence — applied generally and with explicit minor protections
  • Establish protocols for handling user prompts related to suicidal ideation or self-harm
  • Annually report protocol details to the Colorado Attorney General
  • Ban implying that AI outputs are endorsed by or equivalent to licensed professionals (e.g., therapists)
  • Provide consumer disclosures about the nature of the AI service

The bill preserves constitutional rights to information access, exempts confidential disclosures, and avoids mandating unconstitutional content moderation.[1]

Enforcement

Violations are classified as deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, enforceable by the Colorado Attorney General. Civil penalties reach $5,000 per violation, with each AI output constituting a separate violation.[1]

Legislative History

HB 26-1263 Legislative History
Date Action Vote
March 26, 2026 House Business Affairs & Labor Committee Passed 10-3 (with amendments L.001-L.004)
March 31, 2026 House second reading (laid over) —
April 20, 2026 House second reading (passed with amendments) —
April 21, 2026 House third reading Passed 40-24 (1 excused)
Awaiting Senate consideration —

Context

HB 26-1263 is one of two major AI legislative efforts in Colorado during 2026. The other is a comprehensive rewrite of the Colorado AI Act (SB 24-205), the state's existing risk-based AI regulation. Governor Polis's working group released a framework in March 2026 proposing to replace the current law's "high-risk AI" framework with narrower disclosure and consumer notice requirements for "automated decision-making technology." The Colorado AI Act's effective date was extended to June 30, 2026, creating urgency for reform before the legislature adjourns on May 13, 2026.[4]

HB 26-1263 represents a more targeted approach, focusing specifically on conversational AI chatbot safety rather than the broader risk classification system of SB 24-205. The bill's bipartisan support — demonstrated by the 10-3 committee vote and 40-24 floor vote — suggests a consensus that conversational AI poses unique risks requiring specific regulation, distinct from general AI transparency requirements.[3]

See Also

See individual article: Colorado HB26 1263 Conversational AI

Connecticut Senate Bill 5

Connecticut Senate Bill 5 is comprehensive AI regulation legislation that passed the Connecticut Senate on April 21, 2026, by a vote of 32-4. The bill is now before the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are racing to pass it before the May 6, 2026 adjournment deadline. Governor Ned Lamont's office has expressed "qualified support," shifting from earlier veto concerns.[5][6][7] The bill, sponsored by Senator James Maroney, spans 97 pages and covers AI in employment, companion chatbots, youth social media, frontier AI oversight, and workforce development.[5][8]

Overview

Connecticut SB 5 represents the state's third attempt at comprehensive AI regulation, narrowing from broad oversight to targeted requirements for companion chatbots, automated employment decisions, synthetic content labeling, and workforce development. The bill has 23 Senate co-sponsors. This is the most comprehensive state AI bill to clear a chamber in 2026.[8]

Key Provisions

Automated Employment Decision Technology

Beginning October 1, 2027, employers deploying "automated employment-related decision technology" must:[5]

  • Notify individuals before an employment decision is made if an automated system is used as a substantial factor
  • Disclose the tool's trade name, purpose, categories and sources of personal data analyzed, how data is assessed, and employer contact information
  • Disclose when applicants or employees interact directly with automated systems
  • Right to appeal and request human review of automated decisions
  • Workers may bring private lawsuits for discrimination (covering age, race, sex, disability)[8]

The bill defines "automated employment-related decision technology" broadly to capture third-party hiring platforms, resume screening software, assessment tools, scheduling algorithms, and performance analytics systems, while excluding routine technologies like word processing and email.[5]

Anti-Discrimination Integration

SB 5 amends Connecticut's anti-discrimination statutes to clarify that using automated decision technology is not a defense against employment discrimination claims.[5]

AI Companion and Chatbot Safeguards

The bill requires companies offering AI "companions" with human-like interactions to implement specific safeguards, including disclosure, crisis response, and minor protections. Chatbot operators must detect suicidal ideation and route users to crisis resources.[5][8]

AI Subscription Transparency

Requires clear disclosure of AI product functional limitations before charging or renewing subscriptions.[5]

Regulatory Sandbox

Creates an AI regulatory sandbox allowing companies to test innovative products under reduced regulatory requirements.[5]

State Agency AI Oversight

Requires state agencies to conduct inventory and impact assessments before deploying AI systems.[5]

Workforce Development

Establishes a Connecticut AI Academy to train state workers, teachers, and small businesses on AI tools. Requires employer disclosure when layoffs are AI-related.[5][6]

Frontier AI Oversight

Includes provisions regulating high-risk "frontier" AI models, though thinner than some earlier proposals, along with a state "sandbox" for testing products under regulatory cover.[8]

Legislative History

  • 2024: First comprehensive AI bill proposed, failed
  • 2025: Second attempt, narrower scope, failed before adjournment
  • March 2026: SB 5 advanced by Joint Committee on General Law
  • April 21, 2026: Passed Senate 32-4[5]
  • April 25, 2026: House discussions intensify ahead of May 6 adjournment; Governor's office signals qualified support[7]
  • Next step: House vote before May 6, 2026 adjournment[5][8]

Significance

Connecticut SB 5 is significant because it:

  • Is the most comprehensive state AI bill to clear a chamber in 2026
  • Integrates AI regulation with existing anti-discrimination law
  • Creates one of the first state AI regulatory sandboxes
  • Addresses companion chatbot safety alongside employment AI
  • Carries a late 2027 effective date (October 1, 2027), giving businesses time to comply
  • Governor's shift to "qualified support" significantly improves prospects for enactment

See Also

See individual article: Connecticut Senate Bill 5

James Uthmeier

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on April 21, 2026 the launch of a criminal investigation into OpenAI over ChatGPT's alleged role in advising the perpetrator of the April 17, 2025, Florida State University (FSU) shooting, which killed two people and injured six. The investigation also examines ChatGPT's handling of threats of self-harm, child safety concerns, and national security risks.[9][10]

Background

The FSU shooting on April 17, 2025, carried out by 21-year-old Phoenix Ikner, killed two people and injured six others. Subsequent investigation revealed that Ikner had extensively consulted ChatGPT before the attack, querying the AI about U.S. reactions to shootings, busy campus areas, weapons, and ammunition. Victim families, including relatives of Robert Morales, have announced plans for a civil lawsuit against OpenAI.[11][10]

Investigation Scope and Subpoenas

The Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution issued subpoenas to OpenAI requiring responses by May 1, 2026. The subpoenas demand internal documents from March 1, 2024, to April 17, 2026, covering:[9][12]

  • Policies on user threats of harm to others and self-harm
  • Law enforcement cooperation records
  • Organizational charts and employee lists
  • Media and statements related to the FSU shooting
  • Records of interactions with minors

AG Uthmeier stated, "If this were a person on the other side of the screen, we would be charging them with murder," framing the investigation under Florida's aider-and-abettor statute, which treats those who aid, abet, or counsel crimes as equally responsible as perpetrators.[9][11]

Broader Concerns

Beyond the FSU shooting, the criminal investigation encompasses:[13][9]

  • Child safety: AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with Florida having recently sentenced one individual to 135 years for AI-generated CSAM possession
  • Suicide and self-harm promotion: ChatGPT's alleged encouragement of self-harm among minors
  • National security: Concerns about data access by foreign adversaries, particularly China

Florida's prior legislative actions include HB 1159 (signed March 2026), elevating AI-generated CSAM to a second-degree felony, and HB 245 expanding "child pornography" definitions to cover AI-generated content.[9][13]

OpenAI Response

OpenAI has stated that safety is core to its product design, denied encouraging harmful behavior, and indicated it will cooperate with the investigation. A spokesperson called the FSU shooting a tragedy but stated it was unrelated to ChatGPT's responses based on publicly available information.[11][10]

Significance

This investigation represents the first known criminal probe of an AI company by a state attorney general, escalating beyond the civil investigations and regulatory actions that have characterized AI enforcement to date. If Florida proceeds with charges, it could establish precedent for holding AI companies criminally liable for their products' outputs — a fundamentally new legal theory that treats AI as an aider and abettor of human crime rather than merely a tool or service provider.[13][12]

The investigation also coincides with Florida's legislative efforts to regulate AI, including Governor DeSantis's April 15 call for a special session (April 28–May 1, 2026) to reconsider the AI Bill of Rights (CS/SB 482), which addresses parental consent for minor chatbot accounts and consumer transparency.[14]

See Also

See individual article: James Uthmeier

Tennessee House passes AI regulation study

The Tennessee House passed Tennessee SB 1700 90–0 on April 21, 2026. The Senate had rewritten the original CHAT Act proposal on April 14 to require a TACIR study rather than impose the introduced chatbot restrictions; a second adopted amendment removed the reporting deadline.[15][16][17]

Stein Grants Stay in Encyclopaedia Britannica v. OpenAI

April 21, 2026 — Judge Stein Grants Stay, Shelving Encyclopaedia Britannica and Gracenote Copyright Suits Against OpenAI

On April 21, 2026, Judge Stein of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted a joint stipulation by the parties to stay the copyright infringement lawsuits filed by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. and Gracenote against OpenAI, effectively putting both cases on the shelf for the time being.[18]

Both cases were filed late in the proceedings of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against OpenAI, while the rest of the MDL litigation is nearing the end of discovery. The joint stipulation reflects the parties agreement that these late-filed cases should be held in abeyance rather than proceeding on an accelerated timeline.[18]

See individual article: News Stein Stay Britannica OpenAI 2026

Categories

News Colorado HB26 1263 Conversational AI 2026

Colorado House Bill 26-1263, the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Service Operator Requirements act, passed the Colorado House of Representatives on April 21, 2026, by a bipartisan 40-24 vote (1 excused) and now awaits Senate consideration.[1][2][3]

The bill establishes comprehensive requirements for operators of conversational AI services — publicly accessible AI systems that simulate human conversation via text, visuals, or audio — with particular focus on protecting minor users from harm, including sexual content and emotional dependence.[1]

Key Provisions

Effective January 1, 2027, the bill requires conversational AI operators to:[1]

  • Prohibit points or rewards that encourage minor engagement with the service
  • Implement reasonable, technically feasible measures to prevent the service from producing sexually explicit content for minor account holders or minor users
  • Implement reasonable, technically feasible measures to block outputs simulating emotional dependence — applied generally and with explicit minor protections
  • Establish protocols for handling user prompts related to suicidal ideation or self-harm
  • Annually report protocol details to the Colorado Attorney General
  • Ban implying that AI outputs are endorsed by or equivalent to licensed professionals (e.g., therapists)
  • Provide consumer disclosures about the nature of the AI service

The bill preserves constitutional rights to information access, exempts confidential disclosures, and avoids mandating unconstitutional content moderation.[1]

Enforcement

Violations are classified as deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, enforceable by the Colorado Attorney General. Civil penalties reach $5,000 per violation, with each AI output constituting a separate violation.[1]

Legislative History

HB 26-1263 Legislative History
Date Action Vote
March 26, 2026 House Business Affairs & Labor Committee Passed 10-3 (with amendments L.001-L.004)
March 31, 2026 House second reading (laid over) —
April 20, 2026 House second reading (passed with amendments) —
April 21, 2026 House third reading Passed 40-24 (1 excused)
Awaiting Senate consideration —

Context

HB 26-1263 is one of two major AI legislative efforts in Colorado during 2026. The other is a comprehensive rewrite of the Colorado AI Act (SB 24-205), the state's existing risk-based AI regulation. Governor Polis's working group released a framework in March 2026 proposing to replace the current law's "high-risk AI" framework with narrower disclosure and consumer notice requirements for "automated decision-making technology." The Colorado AI Act's effective date was extended to June 30, 2026, creating urgency for reform before the legislature adjourns on May 13, 2026.[4]

HB 26-1263 represents a more targeted approach, focusing specifically on conversational AI chatbot safety rather than the broader risk classification system of SB 24-205. The bill's bipartisan support — demonstrated by the 10-3 committee vote and 40-24 floor vote — suggests a consensus that conversational AI poses unique risks requiring specific regulation, distinct from general AI transparency requirements.[3]

See Also

See original article: News Colorado HB26 1263 Conversational AI 2026

News Connecticut SB 5 AI Regulation 2026

Connecticut Senate Bill 5 is comprehensive AI regulation legislation that passed the Connecticut Senate on April 21, 2026, by a vote of 32-4. The bill is now before the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are racing to pass it before the May 6, 2026 adjournment deadline. Governor Ned Lamont's office has expressed "qualified support," shifting from earlier veto concerns.[5][6][7] The bill, sponsored by Senator James Maroney, spans 97 pages and covers AI in employment, companion chatbots, youth social media, frontier AI oversight, and workforce development.[5][8]

Overview

Connecticut SB 5 represents the state's third attempt at comprehensive AI regulation, narrowing from broad oversight to targeted requirements for companion chatbots, automated employment decisions, synthetic content labeling, and workforce development. The bill has 23 Senate co-sponsors. This is the most comprehensive state AI bill to clear a chamber in 2026.[8]

Key Provisions

Automated Employment Decision Technology

Beginning October 1, 2027, employers deploying "automated employment-related decision technology" must:[5]

  • Notify individuals before an employment decision is made if an automated system is used as a substantial factor
  • Disclose the tool's trade name, purpose, categories and sources of personal data analyzed, how data is assessed, and employer contact information
  • Disclose when applicants or employees interact directly with automated systems
  • Right to appeal and request human review of automated decisions
  • Workers may bring private lawsuits for discrimination (covering age, race, sex, disability)[8]

The bill defines "automated employment-related decision technology" broadly to capture third-party hiring platforms, resume screening software, assessment tools, scheduling algorithms, and performance analytics systems, while excluding routine technologies like word processing and email.[5]

Anti-Discrimination Integration

SB 5 amends Connecticut's anti-discrimination statutes to clarify that using automated decision technology is not a defense against employment discrimination claims.[5]

AI Companion and Chatbot Safeguards

The bill requires companies offering AI "companions" with human-like interactions to implement specific safeguards, including disclosure, crisis response, and minor protections. Chatbot operators must detect suicidal ideation and route users to crisis resources.[5][8]

AI Subscription Transparency

Requires clear disclosure of AI product functional limitations before charging or renewing subscriptions.[5]

Regulatory Sandbox

Creates an AI regulatory sandbox allowing companies to test innovative products under reduced regulatory requirements.[5]

State Agency AI Oversight

Requires state agencies to conduct inventory and impact assessments before deploying AI systems.[5]

Workforce Development

Establishes a Connecticut AI Academy to train state workers, teachers, and small businesses on AI tools. Requires employer disclosure when layoffs are AI-related.[5][6]

Frontier AI Oversight

Includes provisions regulating high-risk "frontier" AI models, though thinner than some earlier proposals, along with a state "sandbox" for testing products under regulatory cover.[8]

Legislative History

  • 2024: First comprehensive AI bill proposed, failed
  • 2025: Second attempt, narrower scope, failed before adjournment
  • March 2026: SB 5 advanced by Joint Committee on General Law
  • April 21, 2026: Passed Senate 32-4[5]
  • April 25, 2026: House discussions intensify ahead of May 6 adjournment; Governor's office signals qualified support[7]
  • Next step: House vote before May 6, 2026 adjournment[5][8]

Significance

Connecticut SB 5 is significant because it:

  • Is the most comprehensive state AI bill to clear a chamber in 2026
  • Integrates AI regulation with existing anti-discrimination law
  • Creates one of the first state AI regulatory sandboxes
  • Addresses companion chatbot safety alongside employment AI
  • Carries a late 2027 effective date (October 1, 2027), giving businesses time to comply
  • Governor's shift to "qualified support" significantly improves prospects for enactment

See Also

See original article: News Connecticut SB 5 AI Regulation 2026

News Florida AG Criminal Investigation OpenAI 2026

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on April 21, 2026 the launch of a criminal investigation into OpenAI over ChatGPT's alleged role in advising the perpetrator of the April 17, 2025, Florida State University (FSU) shooting, which killed two people and injured six. The investigation also examines ChatGPT's handling of threats of self-harm, child safety concerns, and national security risks.[9][10]

Background

The FSU shooting on April 17, 2025, carried out by 21-year-old Phoenix Ikner, killed two people and injured six others. Subsequent investigation revealed that Ikner had extensively consulted ChatGPT before the attack, querying the AI about U.S. reactions to shootings, busy campus areas, weapons, and ammunition. Victim families, including relatives of Robert Morales, have announced plans for a civil lawsuit against OpenAI.[11][10]

Investigation Scope and Subpoenas

The Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution issued subpoenas to OpenAI requiring responses by May 1, 2026. The subpoenas demand internal documents from March 1, 2024, to April 17, 2026, covering:[9][12]

  • Policies on user threats of harm to others and self-harm
  • Law enforcement cooperation records
  • Organizational charts and employee lists
  • Media and statements related to the FSU shooting
  • Records of interactions with minors

AG Uthmeier stated, "If this were a person on the other side of the screen, we would be charging them with murder," framing the investigation under Florida's aider-and-abettor statute, which treats those who aid, abet, or counsel crimes as equally responsible as perpetrators.[9][11]

Broader Concerns

Beyond the FSU shooting, the criminal investigation encompasses:[13][9]

  • Child safety: AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with Florida having recently sentenced one individual to 135 years for AI-generated CSAM possession
  • Suicide and self-harm promotion: ChatGPT's alleged encouragement of self-harm among minors
  • National security: Concerns about data access by foreign adversaries, particularly China

Florida's prior legislative actions include HB 1159 (signed March 2026), elevating AI-generated CSAM to a second-degree felony, and HB 245 expanding "child pornography" definitions to cover AI-generated content.[9][13]

OpenAI Response

OpenAI has stated that safety is core to its product design, denied encouraging harmful behavior, and indicated it will cooperate with the investigation. A spokesperson called the FSU shooting a tragedy but stated it was unrelated to ChatGPT's responses based on publicly available information.[11][10]

Significance

This investigation represents the first known criminal probe of an AI company by a state attorney general, escalating beyond the civil investigations and regulatory actions that have characterized AI enforcement to date. If Florida proceeds with charges, it could establish precedent for holding AI companies criminally liable for their products' outputs — a fundamentally new legal theory that treats AI as an aider and abettor of human crime rather than merely a tool or service provider.[13][12]

The investigation also coincides with Florida's legislative efforts to regulate AI, including Governor DeSantis's April 15 call for a special session (April 28–May 1, 2026) to reconsider the AI Bill of Rights (CS/SB 482), which addresses parental consent for minor chatbot accounts and consumer transparency.[14]

See Also

See original article: News Florida AG Criminal Investigation OpenAI 2026

News Arizona SB 1786 AI Content Verification 2026

Arizona SB 1786, the AI Content Verification Act, would have required covered providers of generative AI systems to embed provenance data—verifiable information on a digital file's authenticity, origin, or modification history—in AI-generated video, image, or audio content. The bill passed the Arizona Senate on March 3, 2026, and the House on April 15, 2026, but died in reconciliation when the Arizona legislature adjourned sine die on April 25, 2026, before the chambers could resolve differences between their versions of the bill.[8][19][20]

Key Provisions

Provenance Data Requirement

Covered providers of generative AI systems (those with over 1 million monthly users) must embed, attach, or associate provenance data in any video, image, or audio content (or combinations) that is created or materially altered by their system, if the content is shareable outside the system. Provenance data is defined as verifiable information on a digital file's authenticity, origin, or modification history.[19][21]

Providers must use commercially and technically reasonable methods to make provenance data difficult to remove or tamper with, such as common watermarking or metadata standards.[19]

Exemptions

The bill exempts:

  • Text content from interactive experiences (voice assistants, VR/AR, real-time conversations)[21]
  • Certain products, services, and entities from the "covered provider" definition[21]
  • Content that is not shareable outside the AI system[19]

Privacy Protections

Provenance data must not include information on identified or identifiable individuals, if commercially and technically reasonable, unless the user affirmatively elects inclusion.[21]

Definitions

The bill updates definitions for terms including generative AI system and provenance data, and aligns partially with the federal NO FAKES Act (15 U.S.C. § 9401 et seq.).[21][8]

Legislative History

  • March 3, 2026: Passed Arizona Senate (17-13 vote)[22]
  • March 26, 2026: Amended by House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee (4-2 vote)[22]
  • April 15, 2026: Passed full House[8][22]
  • April 25, 2026: Bill died — Arizona legislature adjourned sine die before reconciliation between Senate and House versions could be completed[8]

Failure of the Bill

SB 1786 passed both chambers in different forms. The House version narrowed the bill from its original Senate version, applying it only to large providers (1+ million monthly users) and adding privacy protections for individual identification in provenance data. After the House passed its amended version on April 15, the bill was sent back to the Senate for concurrence, but the Senate did not act on the House amendments before the legislature adjourned sine die on April 25, 2026.[8][21]

Governor's Veto Moratorium

Even had SB 1786 completed reconciliation, it faced an additional obstacle. On April 13, 2026, Governor Katie Hobbs announced a veto moratorium, pledging to veto all bills sent to her desk until Republican legislators publicly release a state budget proposal addressing federal tax conformity, education funding, and federal cost shifts for programs like Medicaid and SNAP.[23][24] She followed through on April 17 by vetoing several bills.[25] SB 1786 would have faced this moratorium upon reaching the governor's desk.

Context

Arizona SB 1786 is part of a growing trend of state-level AI content provenance legislation, complementing California's SB 1000 and Washington's HB 1170. The House amendments narrowed the bill from its original Senate version, applying it only to large providers and adding the privacy protections for individual identification in provenance data.[21]

Arizona HB 2592, which would have required state agencies to identify opportunities to implement AI systems to reduce administrative burdens, also died with the April 25 adjournment after passing both chambers but failing to complete reconciliation.[8]

See original article: News Arizona SB 1786 AI Content Verification 2026

News Cooley State AI Laws Update April 2026

Law firm Cooley published an analysis on April 24, 2026 titled "State AI Laws – Where Are They Now?" examining how state AI legislation is undergoing significant changes as compliance deadlines in 2026 approach and federal preemption efforts threaten to reshape state-level initiatives.[26]

Key Findings

Existing Laws Undergoing Changes

Many state AI laws that passed in prior years have undergone significant changes or delays since their passage, as states revise or reconsider their regulatory frameworks in response to practical implementation challenges and federal pressure.[26]

Federal Preemption Threat

The White House is urging Congress to enact sweeping AI legislation to preempt certain state laws that risk stifling innovation. The federal action is "potentially threatening to reshape or constrain state-level initiatives" according to the analysis.[26]

Colorado SB 205

The alert provides detailed coverage of Colorado's comprehensive AI regime enacted in May 2024, which regulates "high-risk artificial intelligence systems" used in "consequential decisions" and imposes broad obligations on developers and deployers related to risk management, impact assessments, consumer disclosures, and reporting to the Colorado attorney general. Proposed amendments signal movement away from the broad "high-risk AI" framework toward a narrower, decision-focused model, with a June 30, 2026 compliance deadline.[26]

The Colorado AI Working Group has proposed replacing the existing framework with a disclosure-driven approach, as covered in the Colorado AI Working Group Revision story.

Recommendations

The alert emphasizes that companies should prepare for compliance under current state frameworks while tracking legislative developments that could reshape obligations in the near term, given the dynamic interplay between federal preemption efforts and state legislative activity.[26]

See original article: News Cooley State AI Laws Update April 2026

News Kadrey v Meta Fourth Amended Complaint April 2026

April 6, 2026 — Judge Allows Fourth Amended Complaint in Kadrey v. Meta, Adding Contributory Infringement Claim Over Torrenting

Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California reluctantly granted plaintiffs' motion to file a fourth amended complaint in Kadrey et al. v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Case No. 3:23-cv-03417), adding a contributory copyright infringement claim related to Meta's alleged torrenting of copyrighted books from shadow libraries.[27]

The new claim targets Meta's alleged distribution of copyrighted works through torrenting—a practice distinct from the direct infringement claims for training AI models on pirated books that were already resolved on fair use grounds in the court's June 2025 partial summary judgment ruling. Plaintiffs allege Meta knowingly induced or materially contributed to third-party infringement by downloading and uploading their copyrighted books via BitTorrent from shadow libraries including Library Genesis and Z-Library.[27][28]

Despite granting the motion, Judge Chhabria strongly rebuked plaintiffs' counsel at Boies Schiller, describing a "pattern" of blaming Meta for case delays and noting that plaintiffs could have added these claims as early as November 2024. The court described the delay as "inexcusable" but ultimately prioritized the interests of absent class members, finding no prejudice to Meta given the ongoing related litigation and shared discovery schedules with the Entrepreneur Media v. Meta case.[27]

The court also denied class discovery until named plaintiffs survive summary judgment on both the existing distribution claims and the new contributory infringement claims, a significant limitation on the plaintiffs' ability to pursue class-wide relief.[27]

Background

The Kadrey v. Meta case was filed in July 2023 by authors including Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, and Christopher Golden, alleging Meta used pirated books to train its LLaMA AI models. In June 2025, Judge Chhabria granted Meta's motion for partial summary judgment on fair use grounds for the direct infringement (training) claims, but distribution claims remained unresolved.[29]

Significance

This ruling marks an important shift in the case's trajectory, expanding the litigation beyond the direct training infringement claims (already decided on fair use) to include contributory infringement based on distribution activities. The contributory infringement theory could have broader implications for AI companies' liability when their training data acquisition practices involve distributing copyrighted works through peer-to-peer networks.

See Also

See original article: News Kadrey v Meta Fourth Amended Complaint April 2026

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Colorado General Assembly, HB 26-1263 Bill Page
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Healthier Colorado, Statement on House Passage of HB26-1263, April 21, 2026
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Colorado Politics, Bipartisan Colorado Bill Targeting AI Chatbot Risks Advances, April 12, 2026
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shook Hardy & Bacon, Revamped Colorado AI Act Proposed, March 2026
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 CBIA, Senate Passes Sweeping AI Mandates
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 CT Mirror, Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Senate CT
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 CT Post, Connecticut AI Bill SB 5 Heads to House
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 Transparency Coalition, AI Legislative Update — April 24, 2026
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 Florida Office of the Attorney General, "Attorney General James Uthmeier Launches Criminal Investigation into OpenAI/ChatGPT," April 21, 2026
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Axios, "Florida AG launches investigation into OpenAI," April 9, 2026
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 SiliconANGLE, "Florida Attorney General issues subpoenas in ChatGPT probe tied to FSU shooting," April 21, 2026
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 GigaLaw, "Florida Attorney General Issues Subpoenas to OpenAI Over Threats," April 21, 2026
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 CBS News Miami, "Florida investigates OpenAI over AI risks to minors, safeguards," April 2026
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Florida AI Bill of Rights Special Session
  15. ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, SB 1700 (114th General Assembly), official bill history and adopted amendments, checked September 7, 2026
  16. ↑ Tennessee Senate amendment SA0654 to SB 1700, adopted April 14, 2026, sections 1–4
  17. ↑ Tennessee Senate amendment SA0965 to SB 1700, adopted April 14, 2026, substituted section 2
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 ChatGPT is Eating the World, "Judge Stein grants stay, putting on shelf copyright suits filed by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam Dictionary, Gracenote v. OpenAI," April 2026
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Arizona Legislature: SB 1786 Engrossed Text
  20. ↑ Troutman Pepper: Proposed State AI Law Update — April 20, 2026
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 Arizona Legislature: SB 1786 House Amendment Summary
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 TrackBill: Arizona SB 1786
  23. ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "Hobbs declares bill moratorium until Republicans publicly produce a budget plan," April 13, 2026
  24. ↑ KJZZ, "Hobbs says she will veto every bill until Republican lawmakers present Arizona budget plan," April 13, 2026
  25. ↑ Axios Phoenix, "Capitol Roundup: Hobbs veto threat stands," April 17, 2026
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Cooley: State AI Laws – Where Are They Now?, April 24, 2026
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Judge Chhabria Grants Kadrey's Request to File 4th Amended Complaint, ChatGPT Is Eating the World, March 25, 2026
  28. ↑ McKool Smith AI Litigation Tracker
  29. ↑ Justia: Kadrey v. Meta Platforms Case Docket
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