Zuckerberg tells Trump he opposes plan for a FINRA-style AI regulator
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he is against a proposed industry-led AI watchdog during a phone call with President Donald Trump, while the White House continues to weigh the idea.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told President Donald Trump that he opposed a White House proposal to create a national artificial-intelligence regulator modeled on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The conversation took place the week of Aug. 17, according to a senior administration official familiar with the call.
The plan, promoted by DeepMind scientist Demis Hassabis and supported by some senior White House staff, would establish an independent body to review advanced AI models and assess risks before broader deployment. Officials have described the regulator as a FINRA-style organization that would operate under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s oversight.
Zuckerberg did not ask Trump to change his stance, but said any appointees to the regulator should reflect the president’s preference for a light-touch approach to AI oversight. The call followed briefings in mid-August in which White House officials presented the FINRA-style concept to Trump and to leading AI firms, including Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic.
The administration has also considered a voluntary industry group similar to the Motion Picture Association’s rating system, an idea advocated by former White House AI adviser David Sacks, who has previously opposed a formal regulator. Sacks has suggested that a voluntary framework could forestall more intrusive government action.
Meta declined to comment on the call. A White House spokesperson said the administration is committed to balancing innovation and security in AI policymaking. The proposal for a FINRA-style regulator remains under review.