May 2026 US Tech Policy Roundup
May 2026 US Tech Policy Roundup
https://www.techpolicy.press/may-2026-us-tech-policy-roundup
Publish Date: 2026-06-01 08:46:00
Source Domain: www.techpolicy.press
Rachel Lau and Shirley Frame work with leading public interest foundations and nonprofits on technology policy issues at Freedman Consulting, LLC. Ben Lennett is the managing editor of Tech Policy Press.
The Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia. Shutterstock
In May, the Trump administration deepened its push to position artificial intelligence as a core component of US national security. The Department of Defense (DOD) announced agreements with major technology companies to deploy commercial AI systems on classified military networks, and the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cyber Command launched a joint task force focused on integrating frontier AI models across Pentagon operations. At the same time, the White House explored, but ultimately postponed, an executive order that would have formalized a voluntary federal review process for advanced AI models prior to public release.
The month also saw continued scrutiny of how technology companies collect, use and govern data, particularly in areas involving consumer protection and online safety. Lawmakers introduced legislation targeting surveillance pricing, deceptive AI-generated content and data privacy, while civil society groups and public figures weighed in on the risks posed by AI systems. Pope Leo XIV warned about AI’s potential effects on human dignity, labor and the common good, and Public Citizen raised concerns about the federal government’s use of AI in the rulemaking process. Meanwhile, YouTube, Snap, TikTok, and Meta reached settlements in the first school district social media addiction lawsuit set for trial, resolving claims brought by Breathitt County School District in Kentucky.
Read on to learn more about May developments in US tech policy.
Summary
In May, the Trump administration moved to embed commercial artificial intelligence tools into the military’s most classified systems, while also considering, but ultimately shelving, an…
