Regulators can shift the focus by tying market access directly to safety audits regarding current data practices. Instead of debating hypothetical scenarios like rogue AGI, agencies like the FTC or the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) could mandate strict adherence to the GDPR or similar frameworks as a prerequisite for deployment. If a company fails a privacy audit or suffers a breach, the penalties must hit the bottom line immediately. High-frequency, unannounced inspections of training datasets would ensure companies aren't cutting corners on data consent just to rush a model to market.
Financial liability is another powerful lever. Implementing a mandatory insurance regime for AI developers would force private insurers to evaluate real-world risks, such as identity theft or algorithmic bias. Insurers won't cover a company if its data security is a mess. This moves the conversation from philosophical debates to hard actuarial math. Furthermore, requiring
