Hochul on Decoder: AI needs guardrails, age verification trade-offs
In a Decoder interview, Governor Kathy Hochul discussed her view that AI should be 'less evil' and addressed data center backlash. She also spoke about Meta's settlement with states over teen restrictions, acknowledging that widespread age verification would eliminate online anonymity. The conversation covered her strong positions on tech policy ahead of the election year.
The interview touches on several active policy fronts in New York. Hochul signed a one-year moratorium on data center construction in July, and the conversation explores what conditions she seeks before allowing new projects. Separately, the state's ghost gun restrictions face a technical challenge from activist Cody Wilson, who has modified 3D-printable gun files in a process he calls "Hochulization" to demonstrate the ban's limitations.
The Meta settlement with dozens of states, including New York, introduces specific restrictions on teen social media use. Hochul supports these measures but acknowledges that broader age verification requirements would effectively end anonymous internet access for adults. The interview also covers Flock surveillance cameras and the politics of tech policy heading into an election year.
This interview signals how tech regulation is becoming a central campaign issue at the state level. Hochul's positions could reshape how other governors approach AI oversight, data center siting, and online safety. The trade-off between protecting minors and preserving adult anonymity may influence public debate nationally, while the ghost gun dispute could test whether digital restrictions can survive technical workarounds. Businesses and residents in New York may feel direct effects depending on how these policies evolve.