New York may require labels and human review for AI-generated news.Supporters say it could boost transparency in newsrooms.
New York’s state lawmakers are weighing a pair of proposals that would change how artificial intelligence is treated in newsrooms and how the infrastructure that supports it is built, a situation first outlined by The Verge. The twin measures, one focused on AI-generated content labels and newsroom transparency, and the other on pausing permits for new data centres, reflect growing concern about the effects of AI tools and the energy demands they entail.
Together, the bills could force news outlets to rethink how they use AI and slow the pace of data centre construction at a time when both technology adoption and electricity loads are rising quickly.
Transparency for AI in journalism
One of the proposals is called the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act, or the NY FAIR News Act. If adopted, it would require that any news report that is “substantially composed, authored, or created through the use of generative artificial intelligence” carry a clear disclaimer. That means if a story was largely written by an AI system, readers would see a label telling them that fact before they read it.
The bill would also require that any such content be reviewed and approved by a human editor with “editorial control” before publication. Lawmakers behind the proposal say this is a way to ensure people know when machines are writing news and to preserve journalistic standards in an era when tools like generative AI are becoming more common.
Beyond public labels, news organisations would need to disclose to their own staff how and when AI tools are used in producing content and put in place safeguards to keep confidential information, like source identities, out of AI systems.
Supporters argue these steps can help audiences distinguish between human and machine contributions in reporting, and protect both newsroom workers and readers. “At the centre of the news industry, New York has a strong interest in preserving journalism and protecting the workers who produce it,” one lawmaker involved in the bill said when it was introduced.
However, not everyone welcomes the idea. Some First Amendment experts worry the requirements could interfere with editorial independence or give the government undue influence over newsroom decisions. They note that managing AI use is already a topic many news outlets are trying to handle on their own, with independent guidelines under development.
A pause on new data centres
The second bill, S9144, would stop the issuance of permits for new data centres in New York for at least three years. It was introduced in part because of rising energy costs and concerns about the strain large computing facilities place on the state’s electrical grid.
Requests for what utilities call “large load” electrical connections — typically for customers with major power needs like data centres — have tripled in just one year, and at least 10 gigawatts of new demand are expected over the next five years. That’s roughly equivalent to adding the electricity needs of another major city.
New York already hosts more than 130 data centres, according to industry mapping services, and lawmakers say the rapid rise of new applications, including those tied to AI, is pushing those facilities even faster.
The bill would impose a mandatory pause on issuing permits for new data centres long enough for regulators to complete environmental impact reviews and draft rules aimed at managing their effects. During the moratorium, the state Department of Environmental Conservation would prepare a comprehensive environmental impact statement on data centres, and the Public Service Commission would analyse how these facilities affect electricity and gas rates for residential, commercial, and industrial users.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups backing the pause argue that without a break, communities will bear rising energy costs while the infrastructure continues to expand with little oversight. A coalition of more than 230 environmental groups recently urged federal lawmakers to support a national data centre moratorium, saying the facilities can raise utility rates and strain local resources.
What’s fueling the debate
The conversation around these bills comes amid broader pressure on both media and energy policy. Electricity bills in New York have jumped, with regulators approving a 9 per cent rate increase for Con Edison customers spread over three years. Rising power costs are a concern for many households, small businesses, and industries.
Some advocates for the data centre moratorium say New York and other states are unprepared for the pace of infrastructure growth. “Massive data centres are gunning for New York, and right now we are completely unprepared,” state Sen. Liz Krueger, one sponsor of the data centre bill, told reporters in remarks covered by other media outlets. She and co-sponsors argue that a pause would allow the state to align future development with energy, environmental, and community needs.
Nationwide, similar efforts are emerging in states including Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont and Virginia, where lawmakers have also introduced proposals to pause or slow data centre construction. Some Republican and Democratic officials alike have expressed concern that unchecked expansion could drive up electricity bills for average customers.
What happens next
Both bills now await committee review and floor votes in the New York legislature. If they become law, New York could be among the most assertive states in regulating AI’s impact on both media and energy infrastructure.
The pair of proposals highlights a wider debate: how to balance technological innovation with transparency, affordability, and public accountability at a time when AI tools and the systems that support them are growing quickly.
Want to experience the full spectrum of enterprise technology innovation? Join TechEx in Amsterdam, California, and London. Covering AI, Big Data, Cyber Security, IoT, Digital Transformation, Intelligent Automation, Edge Computing, and Data Centres, TechEx brings together global leaders to share real-world use cases and in-depth insights. Click here for more information.
TechHQ is powered by TechForge Media. Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars here.
As a tech journalist, Zul focuses on topics including cloud computing, cybersecurity, and disruptive technology in the enterprise industry. He has expertise in moderating webinars and presenting content on video, in addition to having a background in networking technology.