New York Requires AI Disclosures in News Content
New York's legislature passed the Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act, sending it to Gov. Kathy Hochul for signature. The bill mandates that news organizations disclose when content is substantially or wholly generated by artificial intelligence.
State Sen. Patricia Fahy and Assembly Member Nily Rozic sponsored the legislation, which received bipartisan support in both chambers. The law also establishes protections preventing AI systems from accessing journalist sources and confidential materials.
What the law requires
News outlets operating in New York must provide clear disclaimers on AI-generated content. The bill does not ban the use of AI in newsrooms-it requires transparency about how it's being used.
For writers and journalists, the protections around source material are significant. AI systems cannot be trained on or access confidential reporting materials or information that identifies sources.
Who supported the bill
The Writers Guild of America East, SAG-AFTRA, the NewsGuild of New York, Directors Guild of America, and the Freelancers Union backed the legislation. The NYS AFL-CIO and multiple labor organizations representing media workers also supported passage.
Tom Fontana, president of Writers Guild of America East, said the bill "ensures the integrity of the news and its workforce are safeguarded against artificial intelligence." He called on Hochul to sign it quickly.
Rebecca Damon, SAG-AFTRA's Chief Labor Policy Officer and New York Local Executive Director, framed the law as building on previous protections. "It creates a meaningful, enforceable protection for both journalists and consumers of news media," she said.
Next steps
The bill awaits Hochul's signature to become law. If signed, New York would be among the first states to require AI disclosures in news content.
For AI for Writers and journalism professionals, understanding how generative AI and LLM technologies work will be essential as these regulations take effect.
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