Lawmakers in New York have proposed legislation that would force news organisations to be explicit when their reporting relies on artificial intelligence and to ensure human editors sign off on such material before it appears in print or online.
Senator Patricia Fahy and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic introduced the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act, known as the NY FAIR News Act, on February 2, 2026.
According to the Senate press release, the measure would require publishers to label content that is “significantly composed, written or created with the use of generative artificial intelligence” and to maintain human review processes to verify accuracy and editorial standards.
Supporters frame the bill as a defence of journalistic standards and newsroom employment. Rozic said the state, as a hub of the news industry, has a vested interest in preserving journalism and protecting media workers, language cited in the lawmakers’ announcement. The proposal would also strengthen transparency obligations so audiences understand when material has been produced or substantially composed by AI systems.
The legislative move comes amid organised pushback from journalists and unions. The NewsGuild-CWA has been running a campaign called News Not Slop, arguing that AI should augment reporters rather than replace core reporting tasks. According to the NewsGuild, its principles for ethical AI call for strict human oversight, the use of AI primarily as an assistive tool, and protections for reporters’ rights and sources.
Union activists have highlighted practical harms from premature or unvetted AI use. NewsGuild documentation and recent workplace actions point to examples of AI-generated summaries and stories that contained inaccuracies or misleading information. The union also cited a significant arbitration victory at Politico, where an arbitrator found that management breached contractual obligations by deploying AI tools without proper notice and sufficient human supervision, a ruling industry observers say sets a precedent on worker protections and implementation protocols.
Proponents of regulation say statutory requirements would codify practices that many journalists and newsrooms now demand. The bill’s disclosure and human-review mandates aim to bolster public trust at a time when automated content generation can blur lines between human reporting and machine output.
Publishers and technology advocates have not unified around a single response. Some newsrooms experimenting with AI argue disclosure and human review add workable guardrails, while others warn that overly prescriptive rules could stifle innovation or impose burdens on smaller outlets.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on the introduction of the NY FAIR News Act on February 2, 2026. A press release from the New York State Senate dated the same day confirms the bill’s introduction. ([nysenate.gov](https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/patricia-fahy/fahy-rozic-introduce-ny-fair-news-act-protect?utm_source=openai)) However, some sources mention the bill was passed in early February 2026, which may be a misinterpretation of the introduction date. ([nationaltoday.com](https://nationaltoday.com/us/ny/new-york/news/2026/02/04/new-york-passes-law-regulating-ai-in-news-and-entertainment?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of similar content is February 2, 2026. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Senator Patricia Fahy and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. A search for these quotes reveals they are present in the New York State Senate press release dated February 2, 2026. ([nysenate.gov](https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/patricia-fahy/fahy-rozic-introduce-ny-fair-news-act-protect?utm_source=openai)) No earlier instances of these quotes were found, suggesting they are original to this release.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The primary source is the New York State Senate press release, a reputable government publication. The article also references the NewsGuild-CWA’s ‘News Not Slop’ campaign, which is a known initiative. ([newsnotslop.org](https://www.newsnotslop.org/?utm_source=openai)) No evidence suggests the content is recycled or aggregated from low-quality sites.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the NY FAIR News Act align with the information in the New York State Senate press release. The article also mentions the NewsGuild-CWA’s ‘News Not Slop’ campaign, which is a known initiative. ([newsnotslop.org](https://www.newsnotslop.org/?utm_source=openai)) No supporting details from other reputable outlets were found, but the information is plausible based on the available sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article provides original and timely information about the introduction of the NY FAIR News Act, supported by reputable sources. No significant issues were identified in the fact-checking process.
