Senator Ted Cruz on Key Issues Affecting Texans and Americans
Senator Ted Cruz recently spoke with FOX 4’s Steven Dial to discuss his role as the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The wide-ranging interview covered topics from aviation safety and artificial intelligence to the “Take It Down” Act, a bill aimed at combating revenge porn.
Cruz highlighted the broad jurisdiction of his committee, which oversees approximately 40% of the U.S. economy. He emphasized his commitment to job creation as his top priority.
Aviation Safety Concerns and Modernizing the FAA
One of the pressing issues discussed was the modernization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Cruz expressed concerns about several recent aviation incidents and the need to make flying safer.
“One area that it is clear that we need to focus on, and that’s a real priority for me, is modernizing air traffic control,” Cruz stated.
He pointed out that air traffic control rooms still utilize outdated technology, including 1950s-era radar, “slips of paper,” and even floppy disks.
“It makes no sense that we are monitoring millions of flights using technology from prior decades. It is a real priority. We will have hearings. We will be working to modernize air traffic control so that we can use GPS and the most advanced technology to to keep people safe.”
Addressing the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) was another key topic addressed. Cruz acknowledged the potential of AI but also addressed the associated risks that come with new technologies.
When asked about his concerns regarding AI, Cruz responded:
“Look, of course, with any new technology, there risks any tool. You know, if you invent the automobile, people get run over, you have accidents and people misuse them. Any time you have human beings, you’re going to have some human beings who are criminals, who choose to use a tool for nefarious reasons.”
The ‘Take It Down’ Act and Combating Revenge Porn
Senator Cruz also discussed the “Take It Down” Act, a bill designed to combat revenge porn and deepfake pornography. The legislation has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the House.
Cruz explained that the bill addresses the increasing occurrences of non-consensual intimate images being distributed online, including deepfakes.
“The Take It Down act addresses revenge porn, a phenomenon, sadly, we’re seeing far too commonly where non-consensual intimate images are put out online. It addresses in particular deepfake, non-consensual intimate images. They appear to be naked pictures, or they weren’t real, but then send it to all of their classmates. That’s a grotesque violation of her rights and her privacy,” Cruz stated.
The “Take It Down” Act would make the distribution of deepfake pornography a crime and would mandate technology platforms to remove non-consensual content upon notification by the victim.
“My legislation, the Take it Down Act number one, it makes it a crime to do that. You can’t do that to somebody else. The existing laws didn’t make it a crime to distribute a deepfake. So we needed a new legal regime, a new legal standard to make that a crime. Then secondly, the Take It Down legislation puts an obligation on the tech platforms to remove the content when they’re notified by the victim.”
Cruz expressed confidence in the bill’s passage through the House and its eventual signing into law.
This article is based on an interview conducted by FOX 4’s Steven Dial with Senator Ted Cruz.
