Senators Introduced AI Systems Transparency Act

The bipartisan legislation mandates that AI companies disclose their data collection and security practices.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy steel file cabinet with a mechanical lock, symbolizing government transparency and data regulation. — Senator Chris Coons and three co-sponsors introduced the AI Systems Transparency Act, which grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce data collection and security standards. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the government mandate that AI companies disclose more data about their system operations?

Senator Chris Coons and three co-sponsors introduced the AI Systems Transparency Act to mandate disclosures regarding data collection and system safeguards. The bill grants the Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority over both closed and open-source models.

Why it matters

The legislation aims to improve public understanding of artificial intelligence by requiring companies to report on data usage and measures taken to prevent the misuse of systems.

The bill mandates that both closed and open-source AI developers publish disclosures for every new model release or whenever they make substantial changes to existing systems.

The players

Chris Coons

Chris Coons is a U.S. Senator from Delaware who serves as the lead sponsor of the AI Systems Transparency Act.

Katie Britt

Katie Britt is a U.S. Senator from Alabama who joined the effort as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz is a U.S. Senator from Hawaii who is serving as a co-sponsor for the AI transparency bill.

James Lankford

James Lankford is a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma who co-sponsored the bill to regulate AI data transparency.

Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission is the independent U.S. agency responsible for promoting consumer protection and enforcing antitrust laws.

The details

The bill compels companies to provide transparent documentation regarding how they collect data and what specific safeguards are in place to prevent the development of dangerous or misused AI systems. Under the proposal, the Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing these transparency mandates across the industry.

Senator Coons introduced the bipartisan AI legislation on September 24, 2026.

The Tech Race

This legislation marks a shift in the ongoing race to regulate generative technologies by codifying disclosure standards similar to those used in traditional software and data privacy. It follows the pattern set by the Federal Trade Commission's existing consumer protection mandate by expanding its regulatory oversight into the realm of artificial intelligence.

Users may see more detailed documentation regarding how their personal data is used when interacting with AI products. Developers and companies will face new compliance obligations to keep these disclosures accurate as they update their models.

The takeaway

Transparency requirements represent a growing effort to standardize safety and data practices across the AI industry. Implementing these reporting standards could help users better understand the risks and capabilities of the models they use daily.