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What would the FTC’s AI accuracy policy mean for state chatbot laws?

Historical consensus 2026-08-18 Active
Runs Weekly on Tuesday at 09:00 (Europe/Berlin) Last 2026-09-01 09:19 Europe/Berlin Next 2026-09-08 09:00 Europe/Berlin

Movement at this check

Stable since last check

The answer has held through 3 checks.

Direction shift
0/100
Agreement
0 pts vs previous check

Agreement over time

90/100
2026-07-21: 80/100 · Restated, not moved: The new version sharpens phrasing (e.g., "not automatically wipe out" vs "not automatically invalidate"), adds explicit emphasis on "algorithmic discrimination / disparate-impact duties" as a target, reorganizes content into bullet lists for readability, and slightly broadens the "less likely to be affected" category. Core conclusions, examples, and qualifications are materially identical. 2026-07-28: 64/100 · Rephrased and condensed with minor structural and citation differences; core conclusions on preemption, output-steering risks, and viability of disclosure/safety laws remain identical. 2026-08-04: 90/100 · Restated, not moved: The new consensus clarifies that the FTC policy is a proposed policy statement rather than a final rule and explicitly notes that state law compliance is not automatically a defense against federal deception claims. The overall conclusions regarding which state laws are vulnerable versus safe remain consistent. 2026-08-11: 90/100 · No material movement 2026-08-18: 90/100 · No material movement 2026-08-25: 75/100 · The update expands on details, structure, and legal nuance (such as distinguishing safety controls from deceptive manipulation and detailing preemption litigation factors), but the core conclusions and legal assessments remain identical. 2026-09-01: 90/100 · No material movement View full chart
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90 /100
agreement
  • 3 AI models
  • 0 contradictions
  • 26 sources
Consensus OpenAI GPT-5.4 mini
Models consulted
  • OpenAI GPT-5.6 Luna
  • Google Gemini Gemini 3.7 Flash
  • Grok Grok 4.3 · No reasoning

Consensus at this check

The FTC’s AI accuracy policy would not automatically void state chatbot laws, but it could create a federal preemption argument against state rules that force companies to make chatbot outputs less accurate, less objective, or secretly steered toward some other goal.ftcftc

In practical terms:

  • Disclosure-only chatbot laws are mostly safe. Laws requiring a bot to say it is AI, or to provide clear consumer notices, are much less likely to conflict with the FTC policy.
  • Safety, child-protection, and crisis-response rules are also less exposed if they can be implemented without falsifying or materially distorting answers.
  • State laws that require bias mitigation, ideological balancing, or other output changes are the most vulnerable, especially if compliance would require hidden steering of answers that users would reasonably expect to be truthful.ftcftc
  • Colorado’s AI law is the clearest likely test case, because the FTC specifically points to it as an example of a state framework that could pressure companies to alter outputs.ftcftc

The basic FTC theory is: if a company markets an AI system as accurate, objective, or aligned with the user’s objectives, then secretly changing its outputs to serve an undisclosed purpose can be deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act. If a state law effectively requires that kind of concealed steering, the FTC says it may be impliedly preempted to that extent.ftcftc

That said, the policy is proposed guidance, not a statute or final rule, so it does not by itself erase state laws. The likely short-term result is more litigation and drafting pressure: states may narrow laws toward transparency, audits, and human review, while companies may argue that any requirement forcing output distortion conflicts with federal consumer-protection law.ftc

So the bottom line is: state chatbot laws focused on disclosure and safety should mostly survive, while laws that push models to change substantive answers without clear disclosure face the biggest FTC-based challenge.

Differences

The 3 models broadly agree – no notable differences found.

Best answerOpenAI

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Sources

  1. 1 Federal Trade Commission’s Proposed Policy Statement Concerning The Suppression Of Accuracy In Artificial Intelligence Systems | Federal Trade Commission ftc.gov
  2. 2 FTC Seeks Public Comment on Policy Statement Addressing AI Accuracy | Federal Trade Commission ftc.gov
  3. 3 SB24-205 Consumer Protections for Artificial Intelligence | Colorado General Assembly leg.colorado.gov
  4. 4 Today's Law As Amended - SB-243 Companion chatbots. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  5. 5 stackcyber.com
  6. 6 consumerfinancemonitor.com
  7. 7 bclplaw.com
  8. 8 lathropgpm.com
  9. 9 beneschlaw.com
  10. 10 allaboutadvertisinglaw.com
  11. 11 rstreet.org
  12. 12 ftc.gov
  13. 13 steptoe.com
  14. 14 federalregister.gov
  15. 15 cooley.com
  16. 16 ftc.gov
  17. 17 ftc.gov
  18. 18 winstontaylor.com
  19. 19 ftc.gov
  20. 20 consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com
  21. 21 spencerfane.com
  22. 22 orrick.com
  23. 23 stackcyber.com
  24. 24 steptoe.com
  25. 25 arnoldporter.com
  26. 26 laweconcenter.org

Position Map

Where the models stand

Each row is one part of the answer. The cards show the distinct positions; the model chips show who supports each one.

0/100 Direction Shift · Stable
Shared conclusion

The FTC’s proposed AI accuracy policy would not automatically invalidate state chatbot laws.

Shared position

Supports this conclusion

  • DeepSeek
  • OpenAI
Shared conclusion

Instead, it would create a federal conflict-preemption argument against particular state requirements that allegedly force companies to

Shared position

Instead, it would create a federal conflict-preemption argument against particular state requirements that allegedly force companies to alter otherwise truthful or prompt-faith

  • DeepSeek
  • Gemini
  • OpenAI
Shared conclusion

The proposal’s core theory is that companies marketing AI systems as useful or accurate implicitly represent that the systems are designed t

Shared position

The proposal’s core theory is that companies marketing AI systems as useful or accurate implicitly represent that the systems are designed to provide reliable answers.

  • DeepSeek
  • Gemini
  • OpenAI
Shared conclusion

Secretly steering responses toward undisclosed ideological, political, “equity,” or other objectives could therefore be treated as deceptive

Shared position

Secretly steering responses toward undisclosed ideological, political, “equity,” or other objectives could therefore be treated as deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

  • DeepSeek
  • Gemini
  • OpenAI
See how each model moved across checks
Model position movement by watch date
ModelJul 21Jul 28Aug 04Aug 11Aug 18Aug 25Sep 01
OpenAI
Gemini
Grok — —
DeepSeek — — — — — —
Same positionChanged position

Cite this answer

consens.io. (2026-08-18). Consensus answer to "What would the FTC’s AI accuracy policy mean for state chatbot laws?". Models consulted: OpenAI: gpt-5.6-luna, Google Gemini: gemini-3.7-flash, Grok: grok-4.3-no-reasoning. Consensus model: OpenAI. Sources: https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/federal-trade-commissions-proposed-policy-statement-concerning-suppression-accuracy-artificial?utm_source=openai, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/07/ftc-seeks-public-comment-policy-statement-addressing-ai-accuracy?utm_source=openai, https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-205?_bhlid=d19fc346d4594c2de608032896989596b8c61ce5&utm_source=openai, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB243&showamends=false&utm_source=openai, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFQ4gl2Gexxs72ccYnZc5Hb-UYIvvzFnV7MnfvttdYTC-OZxgtLMjNzTLmY6Xelf7QBnYra5MxDJkrAzko3ZZ3nTE0JWsvEtBacYy51nXU5RnAYqlZzglwfYETyq8YE-TEdvg==, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGX2OwaTpa4iSJ9QrnmUJO_o-GpW5lNGwcIJ6D-mcu-PQeHu87YHUvi_mxUuEyv5KxWWEXPIFipiSC-cLwbZscf5lud742a-535J5Yza3bNsjzVJi3gPRgfvKMSwX0uq-NyjvrhpVj4Il5xZjDmn76imgQxyXaqQgHszT47dslkM8a5f7OG, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEL1Gt3MXzXEBAyXkqhXGCr8gr4PpqYgAIfrD1WhymC1MCf02eYQQTSMWnuTtDaQrnPRrQ8sJ34gRx2oH3zoytnPC1lOPN9HqmS-ebyU-Mlrjs_HhokjwcY6PDbRyeL2GcsNPKprNxwjrMP-iJexV72UWb8-AshXsY8jSKL3UdU92T2axdq76Ntj31TqBT8cbTK9y-Nm8de_637ZdfEA0yHFrnTsBb-yR4c1NiZvg==, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQETmR4OE9sk3i5Id1UyWZzhC7X2OwBlzLR2Ex5-fx8GJesNGEChS5ZaXbFPFtX0yPTI-urXQZebzWP4Q7v_J8Zfv3dGcvPN5J8i6VO2Lnc5HFlEIMXdueMBuNDOSAIl9yhmp7JpJhwFtF-5H7EAIPp8cT3Po0380ms02UHixKSI1Tj5NeSa6sKQA9OWeuDly3n8acD3-3BMxUUDCfJRiKB_FlrBlhy97nWP4DfIq-5_vvQOS8V50maQqwKjDNurd5arVhZKyF795XE=, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHuc3KN2i-kL8z_mubJaelHSpyt4QmuWN8EzMz5Vy8BBHn0fEBZyTbHnkKIhLJoO8s2Ov58ibKgKyAeLGs6WdHDoHQqFyqOYBeF3XyeNmQv7V3HysDG_RrrLrFYA2Iys0u8vknsp-og89pqPvjV9lUW2WZp-ihcAIzagOVA_h5vZT4Cx_TN72tvu__dCeL-VOevYnXpyNrTMfzTLMuJRI_CsjwdvPz8NxuRyMdIQbPXlCli_kCCkgc6fQH7a7jaaQQswGy8c55T, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGYZGB_1_yhViZ2J2_fpijPg7OlclMPn2TggqC4_EUfo7VKpm6uHmUAqYcksz3sSEsF4vjWEUZYTNsaIs3QJpECn1WCvxMcFhobsgQy2ThdwgecnQIJH08o6_98_l1swDB41BKcpPrBuq6ee7TuWhUPzZyo9Q==, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE125mL_EY5BG7gHcHfdypqaecP9bkaf1_dSJsaHr9alxS2cOnheThaQzCi1Iq5TG7yisqbllWPSKj8mu0FozzmeiX-x9XelKYgf2YF4CvF5TW8LC5Wg2IuV-4Tojpn6deS2Qu8EzO4NwG5sZyfY4Cdc23uyodzQbe-sgCWBDzxdmLyn3yo5Bx9Z4HGXN5-3SqUH2F3mezC, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHaoWyuWnsCa17fW9Q0IrdZeDZUA1JsFNEsiPCyQK6wzQ9cs1F9k85bpDp6vaYc2fBt9-j1kGs4PpDVIb5V2l_H5jbDkc9IXxZCViYrU02fWbPCPBcqfANWs4rroWs9IH1ZaG9gfa418vrzjkBm2pU_8o3J-uCk3jzVjROq3e6_qv9H5YCoCETP4ox_DUR_-l-r2O6XfaCCob7QUzBfM1fQ_vtdsUoWmwNd3_p2W3Atol5R, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE93pZSKTutLzGA-oS3yXR5Sba8HBocFRLSw-Ex1bhf4y5Uy4fxFsIZcXFYo12n2VhsK_HKmumPfDN_l_7UGb8neZWdAmxe60D2pwaLtusrV7NdGdMH7rIrQrrXfWTJLw6pMa42wpdzuUY_Vl9tNVnjVX505ygygg1CRKNrI-qNwY5BGw6zdVtA0qNAcwep-CDkgpLR-UixzJZdXo4fNeqYzddUzYZSzB1JxgeiNAp3vA==, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGYFJehDvaLqJbJaSWqKHBalbI9FCYc-ijSOxY17oESiTsc9ExpELz1iTnrSO_FM3r-hhAn-nkSDljjRyedc5GdbUuSkAdmb_3pSPgwOF2GE5HLKbnNMe28jL3VeQweA9jo-kSoy1QhsH7Eg6GjLXrZBvKwqthtRF6Q9epE86kj5CKKdaQfhN6KhZnhKOS6Q2GIcjLrai1sNFKvdZEHAdUmdH9Dm1lt004kinTDsRuBP5pFiV8dHk4bjZ7a6ywDzovgr_RQ2oE43J8ELgn2GPkh2g==, https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFFqjsmEG36gi5M-ocnz697bX7HOFs6rz-uIEDv7zcbyQJDSUQvqkRZcuKDEYapZy3ZlOTNDMeo0svvk2-32e86GP4PnIclmq6MiTpO6kwI3ba-Sj_wErmdm0_REqWEoxFzJ1iYkbAYPozj032vFrKaVvayO92h134A6yOmqnddOvsx_HppMCTIwL3UMxXiEkhFyrm3t8U18hJC9PU0ijvOkbUtcsgllfHMWpXpaJNN1g==, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/07/ftc-seeks-public-comment-policy-statement-addressing-ai-accuracy, https://www.ftc.gov/policy/public-comments/policy-statement-concerning-suppression-accuracy-artificial-intelligence-systems-0, https://www.winstontaylor.com/insights/the-ftc-proposed-policy-statement-concerning-the-suppression-of-accuracy-in-artificial-intelligence-systems, https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/ai-policy-statement_0.pdf, https://www.consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com/2026/07/ftc-proposes-policy-statement-on-ai-accuracy-and-ideological-manipulation-of-ai-outputs/, https://www.spencerfane.com/insight/ftc-proposes-new-policy-on-ai-accuracy-hiding-how-an-ai-system-is-steered-may-violate-federal-law/, https://www.orrick.com/en/Insights/2026/04/2026-State-Chatbot-Laws-Key-Provisions-and-Regulatory-Trends, https://stackcyber.com/posts/ai-chatbot-laws, https://www.steptoe.com/en/news-publications/ftc-proposes-policy-statement-addressing-ai-accuracy-under-state-ai-laws.html, https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/blogs/major-questions-an-administrative-law-and-regulatory-blog/2026/07/ftcs-proposed-policy-statement-on-ai-accuracy-and-preemption-of-state-ai-laws, https://laweconcenter.org/resources/the-ftcs-ai-accuracy-statement-needs-a-fact-check/ Retrieved from https://www.consens.io/s/what-would-the-ftcs-ai-accuracy-policy-mean-for-state-NmpqbAofFirKV4n0?version=a17c59d9ea34b3a1969aa7d7

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Consensus Watch

Run history

90/100 latest agreement
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Agreement over time

How strongly the models support the same claims. Every point links to its run below.

100 50 0 2026-07-21: 80/100 · Restated, not moved: The new version sharpens phrasing (e.g., "not automatically wipe out" vs "not automatically invalidate"), adds explicit emphasis on "algorithmic discrimination / disparate-impact duties" as a target, reorganizes content into bullet lists for readability, and slightly broadens the "less likely to be affected" category. Core conclusions, examples, and qualifications are materially identical. 2026-07-28: 64/100 · Rephrased and condensed with minor structural and citation differences; core conclusions on preemption, output-steering risks, and viability of disclosure/safety laws remain identical. 2026-08-04: 90/100 · Restated, not moved: The new consensus clarifies that the FTC policy is a proposed policy statement rather than a final rule and explicitly notes that state law compliance is not automatically a defense against federal deception claims. The overall conclusions regarding which state laws are vulnerable versus safe remain consistent. 2026-08-11: 90/100 · No material movement 2026-08-18: 90/100 · No material movement 2026-08-25: 75/100 · The update expands on details, structure, and legal nuance (such as distinguishing safety controls from deceptive manipulation and detailing preemption litigation factors), but the core conclusions and legal assessments remain identical. 2026-09-01: 90/100 · No material movement 2026-07-21 2026-09-01

Checks

Newest first. Open any saved result to read the full consensus from that date.

  1. 2026-09-01 Stable
    90/100 agreement

    No meaningful movement detected in this check.

    Open this consensus
  2. 2026-08-25 Meaningful change
    75/100 agreement

    The update expands on details, structure, and legal nuance (such as distinguishing safety controls from deceptive manipulation and detailing preemption litigation factors), but the core conclusions and legal assessments remain identical.

    Open this consensus
  3. 2026-08-18 Stable
    90/100 agreement

    No meaningful movement detected in this check.

    Open this consensus
  4. 2026-08-11 Stable
    90/100 agreement

    No meaningful movement detected in this check.

    Open this consensus
  5. 2026-08-04 Stable
    90/100 agreement

    Restated, not moved: The new consensus clarifies that the FTC policy is a proposed policy statement rather than a final rule and explicitly notes that state law compliance is not automatically a defense against federal deception claims. The overall conclusions regarding which state laws are vulnerable versus safe remain consistent.

    Open this consensus
  6. 2026-07-28 Meaningful change
    64/100 agreement

    Rephrased and condensed with minor structural and citation differences; core conclusions on preemption, output-steering risks, and viability of disclosure/safety laws remain identical.

    Open this consensus
  7. 2026-07-21 Stable
    80/100 agreement

    Restated, not moved: The new version sharpens phrasing (e.g., "not automatically wipe out" vs "not automatically invalidate"), adds explicit emphasis on "algorithmic discrimination / disparate-impact duties" as a target, reorganizes content into bullet lists for readability, and slightly broadens the "less likely to be affected" category. Core conclusions, examples, and qualifications are materially identical.

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3 AI models answered this question independently on 2026-08-18. A judge from a different model family then cross-checked the answers, scored how far they agree and flagged where they differ. The question is re-checked weekly, and every earlier version stays on this page.

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