US Senators Propose Legislation to Restrict AI and Offshore Call Centers

Senators Ruben Gallego and Jim Justice introduced the "Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025," a bipartisan bill aimed at curbing the use of artificial intelligence and offshoring in customer service roles. The legislation seeks to protect American jobs and consumer privacy by requiring businesses to offer consumers the option to speak with a human representative based in the United States.

Companies planning to offshore call center operations must notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days in advance. Those failing to comply will be listed on a public registry for five years, barring them from certain federal benefits unless they repatriate jobs. "People want the choice between a human and a machine," Gallego remarked, highlighting widespread frustration with automated systems.