Who Is Brenna Bird? Iowa Attorney General Profile
Iowa Attorney General who announced legal action against OpenAI and digital platforms
Brenna Bird is the Iowa Attorney General and has served as Iowa's top lawyer since 2023 (CBS2 Iowa).
At Ban the Bots, we track the people and organizations fighting AI: the activists, union leaders, lawmakers, plaintiffs, researchers and founders pushing back on how AI is built and used.
Bird previously served as a county attorney before being elected Iowa Attorney General in 2022 after defeating former Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller (PBS, CBS2 Iowa).
Where Brenna Bird Is Now
Brenna Bird serves as Iowa Attorney General and Iowa's top lawyer (CBS2 Iowa).
- Current role: Iowa Attorney General (KCRG)
- Organization: Iowa Attorney General's office (KCRG)
- Known for: Announcing a state lawsuit against OpenAI and creating a cold case unit within the Iowa Attorney General's office (Firstpost, CBS2 Iowa)
- Recent news: Announced a lawsuit against OpenAI during a press conference in Des Moines (KAAL-TV)
Career and Background
Bird previously served as a county attorney (PBS). In 2022, Bird was elected Iowa Attorney General, becoming the first Republican to win the position since 1979 (KCRG). She has served as Iowa's top lawyer since 2023 after defeating former Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller in 2022 (CBS2 Iowa).
In September, Bird received an endorsement from Donald Trump (CBS2 Iowa).
Dated Recent News
On July 16, 2024, Bird spoke during the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (The Epoch Times).
On September 24, Bird delivered an address at a meeting in Des Moines (The Gazette).
On October 7, Bird announced a lawsuit against video surveillance firm ADI Global Distribution (The Epoch Times).
On October 9, Bird's office announced a lawsuit against camera manufacturer Lorex seeking civil penalties, reimbursement, and fees for alleged violations of the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act (The Epoch Times).
What Brenna Bird Leads and Stands For
Bird announced that Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in state courts (Firstpost). Bird stated that Iowa's legal action aims to hold OpenAI accountable for reckless and unlawful conduct, and she advised residents experiencing harmful repercussions from OpenAI to contact her office or visit iowaattorneygeneral.gov (Firstpost, The Gazette).
Bird highlighted lawsuits involving Roblox and TikTok as part of her office's efforts to hold digital platforms accountable, and noted that Iowa received $126 million through a multistate legal settlement with Meta (CBS2 Iowa). Additionally, Bird stated that her office filed lawsuits against the two largest Bitcoin ATM companies, and that she sued the Biden administration to obtain year-round E15 fuel access for Iowa (PBS).
Within the Iowa Attorney General's office, Bird created a cold case unit that partners with local law enforcement to examine more than 400 unsolved homicides; the unit's first solved case was 37 years old (KCRG, PBS). Bird announced plans to create a Special Victims Unit if reelected, stating that settlement funds from Meta will be used to help finance it (KCRG).
Sources
More people pushing back on AI are mapped in our guide to who is fighting AI, and the unions, companies and governments drawing the line are tracked on Fighting Back.
Frequently asked questions
▸ Who is Brenna Bird?
▸ What lawsuit did Brenna Bird announce against OpenAI?
▸ What actions has Brenna Bird taken regarding other tech and digital platforms?
▸ What is the cold case unit established by Brenna Bird?
▸ What legal actions did Brenna Bird take against camera and surveillance companies?
▸ What are Brenna Bird's plans for a Special Victims Unit?
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