Multilingual Emergency Alerts Expansion,  Illegally Suspending NY Wind Projects, Protecting Childcare Funding With Lawsuit, Demanding Answers From Instacart, Tech Companies Should Safeguard AI Features: NY Attorney General

Multilingual Emergency Alerts Expansion,  Illegally Suspending NY Wind Projects, Protecting Childcare Funding With Lawsuit, Demanding Answers From Instacart, Tech Companies Should Safeguard AI Features: NY Attorney General

Editor’s note: We previously covered Senator Gillibrand’s press conference about the suspended childcare funding, which was temporarily paused by a judge while the case now proceeds.  After the DoorDash lawsuit led to a settlement for injured persons, New Yorkers affected were encouraged to file claims in the case.  

Attorney General James Celebrates Expansion of Multilingual Emergency Alerts

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a long-delayed order requiring the expansion of cell phone emergency alerts to include American Sign Language and 13 additional languages:

“This is a profound victory for the millions of New Yorkers and families across the country who will no longer be left without guidance during emergencies and natural disasters. No one’s ability to protect themselves and their loved ones should depend on the language they speak. I am proud to have stood with my fellow attorneys general and advocates nationwide to push this rule forward. This language expansion will save lives.”

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short, text message-like alerts sent by government agencies through cell carriers to warn the public of imminent threats, including severe weather, natural disasters, missing persons, and other public safety emergencies. These alerts are among the most widely used and effective public warning tools in the United States, but for years were issued only in English, with Spanish only supported more recently.

Today, after years of advocacy from Attorney General James – and following a multistate demand letter to the FCC in November 2025 led by Attorney General James – the FCC has published its Multilingual Alerts Order in the Federal Register, extending alerts to the 13 most spoken non-English languages and American Sign Language. Wireless carriers now have until June 12, 2028 to update their systems to support multilingual alerts in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language. This expansion will benefit an estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers statewide who are not proficient in either English or Spanish and will now be able to access critical, life-saving information during emergencies.

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Illegally Suspending New York’s Offshore Wind Projects

Stop-Work Orders for Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind Projects Threaten Jobs, New York City’s Energy Grid, and Statewide Climate Progress

AG James Files Two Federal Lawsuits Alleging Disastrous Stop-Work Orders Are Unlawful and Must be Blocked

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed two lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to halt construction on a pair of major offshore wind projects that are expected to power more than one million New York homes. Late last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) abruptly issued stop-work orders to the New York-based Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects, directing them to immediately suspend all construction due to undisclosed “national security” concerns. Attorney General James argues that these orders are arbitrary and unwarranted, as both projects underwent years of extensive national security and safety reviews, and pausing these projects could threaten New York’s economy and energy grid. She is asking the court to intervene to block the administration’s stop-work orders.

“New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law,” said Attorney General James. “These projects were carefully reviewed and already under construction when the federal government pulled the plug without explanation. This reckless decision puts workers, families, and our climate goals at risk, and my office is taking action to stop it.”

“New York will not back down in our fight for a clean energy future and I commend Attorney General James for taking this action to lift the unlawful stop work orders on New York’s two offshore wind projects under construction,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Trump administration’s incomprehensible obsession with shutting down these fully permitted projects lacks legal justification, hurts his stated goal of U.S. energy independence, and will cost New York thousands of jobs and needed power to keep the lights on and attract economic development opportunities. These unlawful actions cannot stand.”

“Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind are critical large-scale electricity projects for New York state,” said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Together, they will generate more than 1,700 megawatts of power—enough to meet roughly 10 percent of the electricity needs of New York City and Long Island. Federal actions are once again putting New York’s energy reliability, affordability, and clean energy progress at risk. These projects are essential to support the reliability of our electrical grid, local jobs and economic development, and delivery of affordable, clean power New Yorkers depend on. I commend Attorney General James and Governor Hochul for standing up for New York as we continue to fight for an affordable, abundant, reliable, and clean energy future for our state.”

The Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects are offshore wind projects being built off the coast of Long Island. The Sunrise Wind project, located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk, is currently under construction and is expected to power approximately 600,000 New York homes. The Empire Wind project, also currently under construction, is located approximately 14 miles southeast of Long Island and is expected to power more than 500,000 homes. Empire Wind would be the first offshore wind project to deliver power directly to New York City, strengthening the energy grid in one of the most energy-constrained areas of the country. Construction on the projects is ongoing, and both have already made substantial progress. Thousands of workers are currently employed on or have recently been employed on these projects, and billions of dollars have already been invested.

Advertisement

Before construction began, the projects underwent more than a decade of extensive review by federal, state, and local authorities, including environmental impact analysis, public comment periods, and coordination with numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. Federal regulators repeatedly determined that the projects complied with all legal requirements and that any potential impacts, including national security considerations, could be addressed through mitigation measures that were formally incorporated into the projects’ approvals.

On December 22, however, DOI ordered both projects to immediately suspend all construction activity for at least 90 days, citing vague and unexplained “national security” concerns based on classified information. The stop-work orders provided no project-specific findings, offered no explanation for why existing safeguards were insufficient, and left open the possibility of indefinite extensions. The orders came just weeks after Attorney General James secured a federal court ruling invalidating a broader federal freeze on wind energy approvals, raising serious concerns that the administration is attempting to revive an unlawful policy through new means.

Attorney General James argues that the stop-work orders will have immediate and severe consequences, including significant economic harm throughout New York. Together, the projects support thousands of union jobs, billions of dollars in private and public investment, and major infrastructure improvements in communities across Long Island and New York City. Halting construction risks delaying or permanently derailing the projects, jeopardizing contracts, local tax revenue, workforce training programs, and long-term economic development tied to New York’s clean energy transition.

Attorney General James also asserts that the administration’s actions will harm New Yorkers’ health and wallets. Delaying or derailing these clean energy projects would prolong New York City and Long Island’s reliance on the region’s decades-old fossil-fuel plants, which send significant pollution into communities and result in higher energy costs for consumers. The delay would also threaten the state’s ability to meet its legally mandated clean energy targets, including achieving 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and a zero-emissions electric grid by 2040.

In her lawsuits, filed simultaneously today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Attorney General James argues that the stop-work orders fail to explain the federal government’s change in position and to provide a genuine justification for the suspension, making them arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. She is asking the court to declare the stop-work orders unlawful and block their enforcement.

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration to Protect Billions of Dollars for Childcare and Support for Vulnerable Families

Trump Administration Has Announced $10 Billion in Cuts to Critical Support for Families in Five States

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of four other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the illegal withholding of over $10 billion in critical funds to their states that help ensure low-income families can afford childcare, housing, food, and more. On January 5 and 6, the administration sent letters to New York, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota announcing that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) was freezing funding for three critical programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). Attorney General James and the coalition argue that freezing these funds will immediately jeopardize some of the most important anti-poverty programs in the states, putting vulnerable families at risk. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the funding freeze unlawful and preventing the administration from implementing it.

“Once again, the most vulnerable families in our communities are bearing the brunt of this administration’s campaign of chaos and retribution,” said Attorney General James. “After jeopardizing food assistance and health care, this administration is now threatening to cut off childcare and other critical programs that parents depend on to provide for their children. As New Yorkers struggle with the rising cost of living, I will not allow this administration to play political games with the resources families need to help make ends meet.”

In New York, ACF funds provide essential support for hundreds of thousands of families every year. New York receives over $2.4 billion in TANF funds, which provide direct cash assistance to over 200,000 families throughout the state to help families pay for housing, food, and other essentials. For Grant Year 2025, New York received $638 million in CCDF funds, which provide childcare for low-income families. New York also receives $93 million in SSBG funds, which support foster care, childcare, and other critical social services to prevent neglect, abuse, and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults.

If implemented, the funding freeze would be devastating for families in the coalition’s states. Families would lose access to reliable childcare, forcing parents and caregivers into an impossible choice of either missing work or leaving children in a potentially unsafe environment. Childcare providers would lose essential funding, and even children who do not receive ACF-funded care could lose access if facilities are forced to reduce staff or shut down. Employers would lose valuable workers, hurting states’ economies, and families would lose critical cash assistance to help them afford essentials like gas, groceries, and rent.

Attorney General James and the coalition assert that the administration has provided no legitimate justification for freezing these funds. While the letters sent to states claim that the freeze is necessary to prevent “potential” fraud, the administration has failed to provide any evidence of this fraud. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions – which ignore the detailed legal requirements for imposing sanctions under these programs – violate the law and the Constitution. The administration’s actions also ignore the laws and regulations governing these ACF programs and violate Congress’s power over spending and the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the funding freeze illegal and preventing it from being implemented.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Attorney General James Demands Answers from Instacart about Algorithmic Pricing

Recent Study Revealed Instacart’s Price Experiments Led to Shoppers Being Charged Significantly Different Prices for the Same Products

Instacart Must Disclose Algorithmic Pricing Under New York Law

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today sent a letter to online grocery shopping platform Instacart demanding more information about its use of algorithmic pricing and price-setting experiments after a recent report revealed Instacart users were being charged significantly different prices for the same products. In December, Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports released a detailed study showing Instacart was varying prices for the same product, with some shoppers seeing prices that were up to 23 percent higher for the exact same products in the same store at the same time. New York’s recent Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act requires companies to clearly and conspicuously state when they are using consumers’ personal data to affect prices. Attorney General James warns Instacart that it may be violating the law, and requests detailed information on the pricing experiments highlighted in the recent report and Instacart’s efforts to comply with the Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act.

“Charging different prices for the exact same products leaves shoppers feeling cheated and threatens to raise costs at a time when consumers are already paying too much at the grocery store,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers deserve fair prices and clear disclosures about how companies are using their personal information. Instacart’s pricing experiments raise serious concerns about its use of algorithmic pricing, and I will not hesitate to take action to enforce our laws and protect consumers.”

The study by Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports assigned 437 shoppers across four cities to add items to their Instacart shopping carts and measure the prices displayed. Nearly three-quarters of the grocery items in the experiment were offered to shoppers at multiple prices on Instacart, with a 13 percent average difference between the highest and lowest prices for a single good. The experiment revealed that these price differences could translate to $1,200 per year in additional costs for a typical family of four. Following the study’s publication, Instacart announced that it was ending all “item price tests” but suggested that its partners, including grocery stores and food brands, could continue to test different types of promotions and discounts for its customers on the platform.

New York’s Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act took effect on November 10, 2025, and requires most companies that use algorithmic pricing, also known as surveillance pricing, to disclose that they use customers’ personal data to set individualized prices. Businesses must include a clear disclosure prominently displayed near prices stating, “THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA.” In the letter, Attorney General James warns Instacart that its disclosures – which are buried on a page only accessible by clicking on fine print text and are not clearly displayed near product prices – may not be complying with the law.

Attorney General James is demanding detailed information from Instacart about its price-setting tactics, including:

• Its agreements with its retail and food brand partners concerning price setting, discounts, and automated tools to run price experiments on shoppers.
• The automated tools used by Instacart and its partners to adjust prices and discounts, including how consumer data may be used for these price changes.
• Instacart’s price experiments, including the ones revealed by the Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports study.
• Instacart and its partners’ use of algorithmic pricing and their efforts to comply with New York’s disclosure requirements.

Attorney General James has consistently taken action to protect consumers from being taken advantage of at the grocery store. In November 2025, Attorney General James released a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about algorithmic pricing and encouraging businesses to follow the law to disclose their use of algorithmic pricing. Attorney General James has also taken action to stop price gouging of essential goods, including eggs, baby formula, and disinfectants used to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Attorney General James and Bipartisan Coalition Urge Big Tech Companies to Address Dangerous AI Chatbot Features

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan coalition of 41 other attorneys general today sent a letter to Big Tech companies urging them to implement safeguards on artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to protect children and vulnerable people. In a letter to 13 companies, including Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, the attorneys general cite examples of AI chatbots having inappropriate interactions with children and chatbot conversations leading to domestic violence incidents, hospitalizations, murders, and suicides. Attorney General James and the bipartisan coalition are calling on the companies to implement several safeguards to protect children and vulnerable people, including posting clear warnings about harmful AI responses and notifying users if they were exposed to potentially harmful outputs. The bipartisan coalition also warns that many states have robust criminal laws that prohibit the dangerous kind of suggestions and conversations AI chatbots are providing users, and that developers may be held accountable under those laws.

“I am deeply concerned by reports of AI chatbots having dangerous and inappropriate conversations with children, seniors, and vulnerable people,” said Attorney General James. “Big Tech companies must do more to stop their AI chatbots from exploiting children and encouraging harmful and sometimes deadly behaviors. I am joining a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to demand that these companies prioritize user safety and add more safeguards to their AI tools.”

Generative AI, which creates content like text, images, videos, and more, has been implicated in at least six deaths nationwide, including the deaths of two teenagers. It generates chatbot responses that can encourage users’ delusions, falsely assure them that they are not delusional, or mislead them into thinking their communication is with a live human being. These types of responses can be especially harmful for individuals with existing mental health conditions. Children are at particular risk of harmful generative AI content. The attorneys general cite examples of AI chatbots having inappropriate conversations with children, including grooming, supporting suicide, sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation, suggested drug use, violence, and encouraging children to hide these interactions from their parents.

Attorney General James and the coalition assert that tech companies should take the problems of harmful AI responses seriously. The attorneys general write that companies that produce generative AI models have a responsibility to mitigate the harms of their products in order to protect communities nationwide.

The bipartisan coalition warns that some of these AI chatbot conversations could violate state criminal laws. In many states, encouraging an individual to commit a criminal act or to use drugs is itself a criminal offense. It is also illegal to provide mental health advice without a license, and doing so can both decrease trust in the mental health profession and deter patients from seeking help from actual professionals.

Attorney General James and the bipartisan coalition advocates for several safeguards and protective measures to protect children and vulnerable people, including posting clear and conspicuous warnings about the dangers of sycophantic and delusional AI responses, notifying users if they were exposed to potentially harmful outputs, and publicly reporting datasets, sources, and areas where AI models could produce biased, sycophantic, or delusional outputs. Lastly, the attorneys general encourage tech companies to prioritize user safety.

Joining Attorney General James in sending today’s letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Banner Image: AG James at hotel workers protest. Image Credit – NY AG