Archewell Philanthropies, the charitable organization founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is pressing lawmakers to advance stalled legislation targeting AI-generated deepfakes, while accusing major technology companies of obstructing basic safety measures aimed at protecting children.
In a statement posted on the couple's website under the headline, "Can we all agree technology should not enable predators to target children?" the group commended Minnesota for enacting a ban on AI "nudification" applications earlier this year. The law, signed by Governor Tim Walz in May, prohibits the access or promotion of technology that converts authentic images into fake pornographic content, with civil penalties of up to $500,000 per violation.
The statement highlighted the bipartisan nature of the Minnesota measure, describing it as "an example of leadership fit for the digital age." It noted that even in a state with deep political divisions, the decision to curb predatory technology was not controversial. The post also pointed to similar legislative efforts in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and California, as well as the federal Take It Down Act, signed by President Trump last year, which criminalizes nonconsensual intimate image sharing and requires platforms to remove such content.
Despite these advances, Archewell Philanthropies expressed frustration over the slow pace of federal action. "Still more bills are sitting, waiting to be prioritized as the need for protection grows," the statement said, specifically citing the Defiance Act, which would give survivors of nonconsensual deepfakes a civil right of action. That bill has passed the Senate twice but has not received a House vote.
The organization questioned the delay, suggesting that the tech industry's financial interests are behind the resistance. "This begs the question: why the delay? The answer may lie in the deepest offense to families and children: the tech industry's commitment to pushback on these bills to protect their bottom line," the post read.
The statement also took aim at Elon Musk's xAI, which recently filed a lawsuit against Minnesota to block the state's nudification ban. A federal judge denied the company's request for a temporary restraining order last week. Archewell noted that the trillionaire leader of the company behind X's Grok feature had sued to stop the law, without naming Musk directly.
Further, the post cited lawsuits filed this week by a UK lawmaker, an Arkansas family, and five children from Tennessee, all alleging that Grok generated sexual material of them. "The company is mitigating risk to their bottom line instead of aggressively responding to the clear evidence their product features are enabling predators to prey on women and children," the statement said.
Archewell Philanthropies concluded with a pointed critique of Big Tech's broader conduct: "Big Tech companies are raising billions claiming AI will bring society forward, yet they retaliate against basic safety measures to keep children safe. Can AI make our world better while it enables the worst in humans? Should our children pay the price while we wait to find out?"
The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, have increasingly focused on digital safety issues. Their advocacy comes amid growing bipartisan concern over AI's role in facilitating abuse, as seen in recent congressional hearings and state-level initiatives.
