Robert Walsh

Information Policy / Technology in the News

       Fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) raise several ethical, legal, and policy concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) that must be carefully addressed to ensure the safe, fair, and effective integration of this technology into society. The issue, as depicted in the CNBC news article by Jennifer Elias, is that AVs may be on city streets sooner than expected, and state governments will need to make tough ethical and safety policy decisions. Currently, vehicle manufacturers must demonstrate that their products meet federal highway safety standards through rigorous testing and obtain permits at the state level to operate on city streets. However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a current piece of government legislation that aims to modernize AI policy by prohibiting states from restricting or regulating the implementation of such systems. This presents a problem for states that are currently attempting to navigate the dilemma of AV technology outpacing policy. If states lose the ability to regulate the advancement of this technology, vehicle manufacturers could prematurely get their vehicles on the roads, and the implications could range from property damage to loss of human life. These policy decisions will impact numerous stakeholders, including large corporations, information professionals, lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, and citizens. As AVs approach public implementation, it is essential to engage in discussions among vehicle manufacturers, the government, and the public to determine how to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by this technology. As AI continues to evolve as a powerful tool for AVs, the laws and policies surrounding AI/AV regulation remain insufficient, creating a significant need to consider the legal obligations of government legislatures in protecting citizens' safety while allowing vehicle manufacturers to develop and implement this technology in society.

       The information policy event in this case is the rapid progression of AV manufacturers filing for permits in certain states to use AI and test their driverless vehicles on city streets legally. So far, no licenses have been issued in New York City to operate in this manner, but Waymo intends to change that. According to Elias (2025), “If the permit is granted, it would be the city's first testing deployment of autonomous vehicles. New York state law currently prohibits a service like Waymo to operate without a driver” (para. 4). New York is not the only state to consider loosening regulations governing AI/AV technology. Harris (2017) describes a similar scenario playing out in California, where “proposed regulations would make it one of the first places in the world where autonomous vehicles could carry passengers without a licensed driver on board” (para. 1). This is good news for vehicle manufacturers but may be awful news for citizens of these cities, law enforcement, and the information professionals tasked with developing the AI software to control AVs safely and ethically. The core issue or problem here is that if regulatory policy becomes too loose or is eliminated, these legislative decisions could have implications ranging from property damage to loss of life. Information professionals would need to consider situations where AI must make ethical decisions based on how the software is programmed and the data models it utilizes. Until recently, individual states retained the power to regulate the use of AI/AV technology on their city streets; however, this power may soon cease to exist according to recent government legislation.

       Current laws, policies, and legislation are already insufficient in the AI/AV industry due to the complicated ways that ethical, legal, and policy concerns overlap. There are many stakeholders involved in these processes, including vehicle manufacturers, the government, and the public, making rigorous decisions difficult and often controversial. A current piece of government legislation, H.R. 1 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act states that “This section prohibits states and localities from limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating artificial intelligence (AI) models, AI systems, or automated decision systems entered into interstate commerce for 10 years” (Congress.gov, Summary, sec. 43201). This legislation will undoubtedly be controversial and have ethical, legal, and policy implications if it is passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President. If individual states lose the power to regulate the implementation of AI/AV technology, vehicle manufacturers would not be forced to adhere to strict safety laws and proven testing methods. Permits could become a thing of the past as efforts are made to streamline commerce and progress. Ethically, AI is not yet capable of making rational decisions that include choosing what to do in life-or-death situations. The legal dilemma of liability would be intensified due to unavoidable AV catastrophes occurring before the necessary laws are developed to determine fault and restitution. Also, the consequences of inadequate policy would be noticed as the premature rollout of AI/AV technology causes problems in unique ways for different states or environments in which the vehicles operate. New York City certainly requires different policies from those in rural towns in the Midwest.

       Stakeholders, including large corporations, information professionals, lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, and citizens, must consider the ethical implications of accountability and avoid bias in their algorithms within the context of computing practice. Transparency in algorithms gives policymakers and the public insight into how moral algorithmic decisions are made. If algorithms were biased in their designs or data sets, they could make unfair or unjustifiable decisions, such as prioritizing objects over others based on variables. This makes the controversy a power struggle for various reasons, including financial gains and laws that protect the community. Pasek (2015) states that “stakeholder groups operate from competing realms of power, each trying to tip the scales to their advantage and gain control” (p. 301). One of the most pressing legal implications is liability and who is responsible for accidents. Pasek (2015) asserts that “because it is not possible to please everyone simultaneously, policy issues tend to go through continuous iteration and revision” (p. 301). There is a need for laws to develop consistent rules for testing, deployment, and safety standards of driverless vehicles nationwide. The citizens must elect representatives who will act in their best interests when developing policy. Information professionals must adhere to a code of ethics to create ethical AI software programs. As autonomous vehicle technology evolves, manufacturers, governments, and the public must collaborate to develop comprehensive policies that ensure the safe, equitable, and responsible implementation of driverless vehicles into society. Autonomous vehicles will operate across borders, necessitating the development of policies tailored to each state.

       At the core of this policy event lie several interesting issues that must be discussed by vehicle manufacturers, the government, and the public to determine how to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI/AV technology. The underlying issue is that there is no universal solution to implementing AI/AV technology, and existing regulatory laws and policies are inadequate and weak. The legislative AI policy proposed in the H.R. 1 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act is dangerous for human safety and undermines the already insufficient rules, risking weakening the system further, and putting human lives at risk in efforts to rush the implementation of the technology for commercial gains. Allowing the state to restrict and regulate AI for ten years is concerning, as it opens the door for big business to exploit loopholes in policy and law. For these reasons, information professionals must adhere to a strict code of ethics when working with data, information, and knowledge, as failure to do so can result in severe implications, including property damage, legal battles, privacy violations, data security breaches, injury to innocent bystanders, and even loss of life. Society will feel the effects of the legal, ethical, and policy implications if this legislative policy becomes law. If the states lose the ability to restrict, regulate, and control what AI/AV companies do, combined with all other facets and domains that AI extends across, society will ultimately pay the price and suffer the consequences of poorly developed policy. Therefore, it is essential to continue discussing these issues and creating the best possible solutions for the fascinating development and implementation of AI-controlled AVs moving forward.

Conclusion

       Fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) undoubtedly raise significant ethical, legal, and policy concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) that must be carefully addressed to ensure the safe, fair, and effective integration of this technology into society. The issue illustrated in the CNBC news article by Jennifer Elias is that autonomous vehicles (AVs) may be on city streets sooner than expected, and state governments will need to make tough ethical and safety policy decisions. Vehicle manufacturers must currently prove that their products meet safety standards through testing and obtain permits at the state level to operate on city streets. However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a current piece of government legislation that aims to alter policy to prohibit states from restricting or regulating the implementation of AI systems. If states lose the ability to regulate the advancement of this technology, vehicle manufacturers could prematurely get their vehicles on the roads, and the implications could range from property damage to loss of human life. As AI continues to evolve as a powerful tool for AVs, the laws and policies surrounding AI/AV regulation remain insufficient, creating a significant need to consider the legal obligations of government legislatures in protecting citizens' safety while allowing vehicle manufacturers to develop and implement this technology in society.

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