Christian is based in our Washington, DC office and is a Senior Vice President of ML Strategies. He assists a variety of clients in their interactions with the federal government.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Christian spent 20 years on Capitol Hill, the last 10 of which he served as Senior Counsel and Subcommittee Staff Director on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In so doing, he served under the current Chair, Senator Maria Cantwell (D – WA), as well as former Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and former Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL). In this capacity, his work focused on a broad range of issues, including consumer protection, privacy and data security, cybersecurity, automobile and highway safety, product safety, sports, manufacturing, exports, and trade, while regularly interacting with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Department of Commerce.
Earlier, Christian held senior staff and advisory roles with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy & Commerce, where he worked on matters related to the FTC, NHTSA, CPSC, Department of Commerce, and the EPA.
Christian also previously served as a Senior Legislative Assistant to former Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and to former US Representative Bill Luther (D-MN), advising each on Energy & Commerce Committee issues.
viewpoints
Senators Urge FTC, DOJ to Investigate AI Models That Copy Third-Party Content — AI: The Washington Report
September 18, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the Democratic Senators urging the heads of the FTC and DOJ’s Antitrust Division to investigate generative AI models that may violate competition laws in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
NIST Releases Updated Draft Guidance for Federal Agencies’ Use of AI in Identity Verification Systems — AI: The Washington Report
September 12, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the second draft guidance released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Senator Rounds (R-SD) Unveils Five AI Bills for Congress to Consider After August Recess — AI: The Washington Report
September 5, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about five AI bills Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced for Congress to consider when its members return on September 8 in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
A Preview of AI Priorities Under the Next Presidential Administration — AI: The Washington Report
August 29, 2024 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the AI priorities of both presidential candidates and their likely actions if they take office in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
FTC Cracks Down on AI-Generated Fake Reviews – AI: The Washington Report
August 22, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about an FTC final rule banning fake reviews and testimonials, which takes effect in October, in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Senate Commerce Committee Advances 10 AI Bills – AI: The Washington Report
August 14, 2024 | Article | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about 10 AI-related bills recently advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee for consideration in the full Senate in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Top Competition Enforcers in the US, EU, and UK Release Joint Statement on AI Competition – AI: The Washington Report
August 2, 2024 | | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the joint statement on competition in generative AI foundation models and AI products in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Bipartisan House Working Group Releases Report Calling for Increased Oversight of AI in the Financial Services and Housing Markets – AI: The Washington Report
July 26, 2024 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about the House Committee on Financial Services’ Bipartisan AI Working Group’s report on the use of AI in the financial services and housing markets property in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Bill to Address AI Deepfakes and Protect Intellectual Property – AI: The Washington Report
July 17, 2024 | | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about a bill introduced by a bipartisan group of senators to address AI deepfakes and protect intellectual property in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.
Federal Agencies Continue to Take Action on AI Pursuant to AI EO — AI: The Washington Report
July 11, 2024 | | By Bruce Sokler, Alexander Hecht, Christian Tamotsu Fjeld, Matthew Tikhonovsky
Read about two significant federal agency actions taken within 240 days of the issuance of President Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence in the latest edition of AI: The Washington Report, a joint undertaking of Mintz and ML Strategies covering potential federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities related to AI.