RED HILL – PA Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), made the following statement today in response to the Federal Executive Order on artificial intelligence (AI).
“Pennsylvania, particularly the Greater-Philadelphia region, is a significant national and emerging global player in the technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing sectors with AI helping to accelerate and strengthen our economy. As Chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, I am committed to fostering innovation. My goal is to allow government and the private sector to harness this technology’s full potential in a way that aligns with public good.
As legislators, we must ensure that our policies keep pace with innovation, encouraging progress while protecting safety, privacy, and ethical integrity. It’s our responsibility to understand these emerging tools so that Pennsylvania remains competitive and forward-thinking in this new era.
My committee has been focusing its efforts on consumer facing safeguards. Sadly, there has been a startling increase in the amount of AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) being created and shared in recent years, including troubling cases in school settings. Staying ahead of criminals who use AI for nefarious purposes requires we remain vigilant. We must ensure our kids are protected from the dangers of CSAM. State legislatures are often first to confront these challenges and best able to address them as they arise.
Pennsylvania is committed to balancing innovation with regulation, aiming to ensure that AI technologies benefit society as a whole while minimizing the risks associated with its use.”
CONTACT: Lidia Di Fiore (215) 541-2388