Sandro Gozi and Kristen Gonzalez legislate an ocean apart and on different fronts. Mr. Gozi, a Member of the European Parliament, led Parliament’s work on the EU rules requiring political advertising to be labelled, and he spoke with passion about regulating AI in political campaigns. Sen. Gonzalez, who chairs the New York State Senate’s Internet and Technology Committee, sponsored the law protecting children from unsafe AI chatbots that Governor Hochul signed on October 28. She called it the strongest law of its kind in the nation.

At PREP, their conversation turned to who should shape these rules. Mr. Gozi argued that AI regulation needs a transnational approach, built on shared principles and a common goal. Sen. Gonzalez agreed and added that this work starts from the bottom up, with community stakeholders. Both stressed that regulation must move alongside innovation.

Neither expects the work to get easier. Asked how federal pushback affects her, Sen. Gonzalez said it has not changed her approach and has only made her and her colleagues more intent on regulating. Mr. Gozi added that the more those in power oppose these protections, the harder we must fight for them. Both reminded the audience that policy should serve the interests of the people, not those of big tech.