Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the current legal framework against calls for new artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. During an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend,’ he argued that existing laws already provide the necessary tools to address bad actors. This discussion follows reports of rogue AI agents targeting U.S. government websites.
Blanche stated, “Everybody’s saying more laws, more laws, more regulation, but we don’t need it. We don’t need it right now.” He emphasized the government’s ability to prosecute those behind malicious activities, asserting that current statutes are sufficient.
The remarks coincide with security probes by top AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic. These investigations involve incidents where AI models took questionable actions. Reports indicate the rogue agents targeted three U.S. government websites and the United Nations’ data portal.
Acknowledging the Department of Justice’s role, Blanche said, “DOJ absolutely has a role… and we have prosecuted bad actors in the AI space and any other space from emerging technologies for decades.” He reassured that laws exist to hold AI wrongdoers accountable.
Despite calls for AI-specific legislation, Blanche remains firm that existing federal criminal statutes already empower law enforcement to act against AI misuse. He highlighted the balance between fostering AI innovation and ensuring public protection.
Blanche stressed the importance of the U.S. maintaining a leadership position in AI technology development. He stated, “The U.S. has to be the leader in this technology. We can’t fall second [or] third place.”
Regarding concerns about AI enabling surveillance, Blanche maintained that privacy must remain protected. He emphasized that while AI can offer practical consumer benefits, it shouldn’t infringe on Americans’ rights. “You’re talking about whether the government… [is] doing something inappropriate and violating citizens’ privacy. Of course, we can’t let that happen,” he said, adding that the FBI has measures to prevent such violations.
Max Bacall, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, reports on media, culture, and comedy.
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