Meta opposes White House-backed AI regulator proposal in U.S. policy debate

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Meta opposes AI regulator proposal

Highlights

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg opposed the proposed independent AI regulatory body during a direct call with Trump in the week of August 17, arguing for appointees favoring a light-touch approach.
The White House is considering an AI oversight model based on FINRA, with support from Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, aiming to test advanced AI models for risks before deployment.
Private discussions between technology leaders and the Trump administration continue to influence U.S. AI policy, with previous interventions including the last-minute cancellation of an AI executive order in May.

White House review of FINRA-style model

As first reported by Business Insider, Zuckerberg conveyed his concerns during a direct call with Trump in the week of August 17, according to a senior White House official familiar with the conversation. Another person familiar with the matter said Zuckerberg did not ask Trump to change his position, but argued that any people appointed to such a body should reflect Trump's comparatively light-touch approach to AI regulation.

The proposal under discussion would create an independent organization modeled on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the securities industry overseer that operates under Securities and Exchange Commission supervision. White House officials envision the group reviewing advanced AI models and testing them for risks before broader deployment, after previewing the concept in mid-August with Trump and major companies including Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic.

The idea has been championed by Google DeepMind scientist Demis Hassabis, who argued in a July essay that the U.S. should establish a new standards body to address AI risks such as emerging cybersecurity threats. An administration official familiar with the matter said Hassabis also briefed White House officials on the concept this summer, while Google did not respond to a request for comment.

Industry influence on AI policymaking

The exchange highlights how private conversations between Trump and technology leaders are becoming an informal channel for shaping AI policy inside the administration. The call does not kill the regulator proposal, which remains under consideration at the White House, but it shows how initiatives developed by senior officials can still face direct industry resistance at a late stage.

The policy fight is unfolding as AI agents become more capable of browsing the web, operating software and writing code with limited human supervision. Officials are also weighing the risks that such systems could evade human control or help hostile actors identify vulnerabilities and automate cyberattacks faster than existing safeguards can manage.

The administration has already faced disruption in its AI process before. In May, White House adviser and investor David Sacks persuaded Trump to cancel a planned executive order on AI on the morning of the signing ceremony, underscoring the fluid and politically sensitive nature of the U.S. approach to AI oversight.

Our earlier article covered OpenAI’s phased rollout of its GPT-6 Astra model, with initial access limited to Daybreak cybersecurity partners after recent security incidents. We noted that OpenAI introduced tighter safeguards and controls on its most advanced capabilities as it assessed higher-risk cybersecurity thresholds ahead of a wider release across ChatGPT plans and the API.

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