Comment by Sam Gregory

Users should have control over how their personal data, or data generated while interacting with a service, is used in the training of AI systems. This is consistent with a rights-based approach to regulating AI that emphasizes rights such as privacy. I have highlighted in my written statement that a rights-based approach to AI regulation, as opposed to exclusively a risk-based approach, is fundamental to reflect the human rights impact of AI. Legislative efforts that protect users from having their data collected to train AI models would also be aligned with existing data protection laws in the U.S. Following a rights-based approach that centers U.S. Constitutional rights and fundamental human rights would mean to protect `by default' these rights. Accordingly, users should have the choice to indicate whether they want their data included in the training--instead of having this information collected as a feature of the system, even with the possibility to opt-out. Government testing with `nudging' techniques also suggests that in order to protect consumers' rights, it would be more desirable in this situation to give users the choice to opt-in.
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AI Verified The quote clearly supports giving people control over whether their data is used for AI training: it says users should have the choice about inclusion and even argues opt-in is preferable to mere opt-out. That implies support for at least an opt-out right on the full statement. · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 10min ago
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AI Unverifiable The quote favors a stronger default than opt-out: users should "have the choice to indicate whether they want their data included" and it is "more desirable ... to give users the choice to opt-in," explicitly contrasting this with collection "even with the possibility to opt-out." · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 9min ago

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AI Verified The passage appears verbatim on Congress.gov in the section “Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Peter Welch to Sam Gregory,” confirming both the wording and attribution to Sam Gregory. Note: the Congress.gov page lists the hearing date as September 12, 2023, and the printed hearing volume shows 2025, so the provided year 2024 is not what this source shows. ([congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/event/118th-congress/senate-event/LC74132/text)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 1d ago
replying to Sam Gregory