Governor Hochul: AI should be “less evil”

In a recent interview, New York Governor Kathy Hochul addressed a wide array of contentious tech policy issues. Governor Hochul is a strong proponent of restrictions on how teens use platforms like Instagram, which were part of a settlement between Meta and dozens of states. However, these measures raise significant privacy concerns, as widespread age verification could necessitate the submission of government IDs, effectively ending online anonymity. The Governor also addressed the regulation of 3D-printed ghost guns. New York’s laws are currently being challenged by activists like Cody Wilson, who is altering 3D-printable gun files in a process he calls “Hochulization” to demonstrate the technical limitations of the ban. Furthermore, the discussion covered surveillance via Flock cameras and the broader politics of AI and data centers, particularly following the Governor's decision to sign a one-year moratorium on data center construction in July.