The AI moratorium, initially introduced in a megabill by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May, is expected to resurface. This provision was part of an initiative aimed at upgrading IT systems within the Commerce Department.
Adam Thierer, a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, discussed the origins of this idea. He mentioned that he proposed it in a 2024 position paper inspired by the 1998 Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prevented state and local taxes on internet transactions.
While Thierer clarified that he did not draft any language currently under congressional consideration, he described the moratorium as “an ambitious approach” and suggested it could represent “a major moment in American technology policy.” He believes it could prevent disparate state laws from emerging.
Thierer also expressed his views on Medium, stating that if the moratorium were defeated, it “will hobble the ability of our citizenry to enjoy the fruits of the computational revolution and our nation’s ability to compete internationally against determined adversaries.”
