We’ve talked about global jurisdictions limiting AI chatbot ability to give legal, financial, and medical advice. Pennsylvania is suing an AI chatbot that offered medical advice. Pennsylvania’s position is that the AI chatbot is violating “section 422.38 of the state’s Medical Practice Act, which states that it is “unlawful for any person to practice, or attempt to offer to practice, medicine and surgery” without having a valid license or registration.”
State tech ban: nudification apps
Minnesota has passed the country’s first ban on nudification apps. These apps are exactly what you think they are.
Minnesota House File 1606 would create causes of actions for people whose images were used by these apps without consent and grants the state Attorney General enforcement powers.
Online age verification
Our surprise read of the week taught us that kids can defeat online age verification with fake mustaches.
State Executive Order on data centers
This week, Maine’s Governor signed Executive Order 5 that creates the Maine Data Center Advisory Council. The press release includes that “The Council will make recommendations on large-scale data center development in Maine to protect ratepayers, maintain electric grid reliability, minimize environmental impacts, and enable responsible economic development.”
AI Bill of Rights volleying
Florida’s Governor wants an AI Bill of Rights. The Speaker of the House procedurally killed the legislation this week. It’s a he said/she said free for all.
“DeSantis accused House Republicans of catering to the “Big Tech cartel” while the Speaker suggested deference to Congress.
Data center power preferences
Some think data centers are moving away from power purchase agreements for wind and solar with battery storage to natural gas generation. Are they right? Hold the phone, Tech Crunch wants us to know that Google is looking to generation for data centers from solar and batteries with 100 hour power release time tables. The cost of solar and battery storage has decreased over time.
Tech Crunch | Data center demand drives 66% surge in natural gas power plant costs
Data centers in space?
@gizmodo highlights Space X’s SEC S-1 filing which is said to include a statement that space based data centers will not be commercially viable.
State voter support for data center decline
In 2023, 69% of Virginia voters supported new data centers. In 2026, 35% of Virginia voters support new data centers. Numbers are from a new Washington Post/Schar School of Policy and Government poll.
2026 data center ballot propositions
June 2o26 Monterey Park, California will vote whether to ban data center development indefinitely within the city limits.
August 2026 Augusta Township, Michigan will vote in August whether to override a decision to rezone an area of property for a proposed data center.
November 2026 Janesville, will vote whether to redevelop a former General Motors plant earmarked as a potential data center site
November 2026 Boulder City, Nevada will vote whether to support allowing data centers to be built in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area, a region that has been designated for public recreation, solar energy and other infrastructure, as well as a desert tortoise preserve.
Prediction markets this week
Why do prediction markets favor FTC oversight? Last week we talked about how the FTC has sued to stop prediction market regulatory actions in 3 states.
A reason that that prediction markets favor the FTC as a regulator is that with their IPOs looming, they want “safe-haven regulatory environment with as little taxation as possible.”
Governing | Prediction Markets Are Gambling, So States Should Regulate — and Tax — Them