Risch, Barrasso Bill Stops Foreign and Artificial Intelligence Influence on Energy and Federal Lands Policy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to prevent the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) electronic public comment system from being sabotaged by foreign adversaries and Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots.

Currently, the federal government's online comment system allows comments from individuals, organizations, or anonymous users, with no safeguards to prevent foreign individuals or AI bots from submitting comments relating to sweeping policy and rule proposals. The American Voices in Federal Lands Act would restrict the public comment process and ensure only American citizens are providing feedback on the policies affecting American energy production and federal lands.

"Idahoans are entitled to a seat at the table when it comes to projects proposed on our federal lands, yet the BLM is allowing foreign and AI generated comments to infiltrate the public comment process," said Risch. "Given Idaho's extensive public lands and the uptick in project proposals in our state, it is more important than ever that we protect local input. With the American Voices on Federal Lands Act, the public comment process will only accept comments from real Idahoans with real concerns."

"The overreaching rules and regulations coming out of the Biden administration's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have a significant impact on Wyoming's farmers, ranchers, landowners, and energy industry. Their voices and opinions should be the top priority of the administration during public comment periods," said Barrasso. "Instead, the administration is allowing foreign adversaries and Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots to sabotage the public comment process. Bad actors, like Russia and China, are given the green light to influence policy and keep us from producing American energy. This bill will stop this interference and make sure only the American people have a say in Biden's reckless energy and federal lands policies."

The American Voices in Federal Lands Act would deter comments from AI from being submitted by implementing a "Completely Automated Public test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart" (CAPTCHA) system.

Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.).

###

Permalink: https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2024/7/risch-barrasso-bill-stops-foreign-and-artificial-intelligence-influence-on-energy-and-federal-lands-policy