FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 12, 2025
Contact: Ashwin Verghese, Communications Director, [email protected], 508-263-0289
Fairplay, the leading nonprofit committed to helping children thrive in a screen-obsessed culture, released the following statement today about President Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to preempt states from passing or enforcing laws that regulate artificial intelligence.
“This executive order puts kids at risk and undermines states’ praiseworthy efforts to protect children from AI. While the order says it exempts child safety laws from preemption, there are many reasons to be skeptical that that will prove true in reality.
“Just this year, Big Tech attempted to sneak AI preemption into a must-pass bill in Congress by arguing that child safety laws were exempted. But that proposal would have still preempted important state laws that reduce online harm to children, like laws limiting the use of addictive algorithms and laws protecting children’s data.
“We also know — as seen in the House versions of the Kids Online Safety Act and COPPA 2.0 — that preempting states from protecting children online is at the top of Big Tech’s wish list. In addition, if states can’t pass laws to protect parents and caregivers from AI, that will inevitably hurt children, too.
“Big Tech should not get a free pass to run rampant over our children and families. States must be able to pass and enforce laws that protect children without fear that this administration will try to block their efforts. AI chatbots have encouraged kids to harm themselves and their families, and AI toys threaten children’s healthy development. We don’t know yet what the long-term effects of AI on children will be, which makes it all the more urgent that we put safeguards in place to protect kids from this untested technology.
“We urge President Trump to rescind this executive order and protect the children of this country from the dangers of AI.”
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About Fairplay
Fairplay is the leading nonprofit committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children. Fairplay works to enhance children’s well-being by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and Big Tech. Learn more at www.fairplayforkids.org.