In a priority of Governor Ron DeSantis, a Senate Republican on Monday introduced a proposal called the “Artificial intelligence Rights Act.”
The proposal (SB 482), filed by Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, includes steps to keep “harmful” content from minors. It comes next DeSantis called for an AI bill of rights – and beyond President Donald Trump has issued an executive order trying to limit regulation of the fast-growing technology on a state-by-state basis.
Leek’s bill, which is being introduced for the legislative session starting January 13, addresses a variety of issues, such as establishing a “right” for parents to monitor children’s interactions with artificial intelligence; saying that people have the right to know when they are communicating with a human or an AI system; and setting rules about the unauthorized use of people’s names, images or likenesses.
Colin Hackley/File via Florida News Service
The measure also says people have the right to know whether political ads are created in whole or in part using artificial intelligence and would ban Florida government agencies from contracting with AI companies linked to what is known as a “foreign country of concern,” such as China or Russia.
Trump has attracted widespread attention as he seeks to curb state regulations on AI. But during a Dec. 15 appearance in Jupiter, DeSantis expressed confidence that Florida could move forward with his proposals and that state law could withstand a federal legal challenge.
“Even if I read it (Trump’s order) very broadly, I think the things we do are going to be very consistent,” DeSantis said. “But either way, we clearly have the right to do this.”
Rather than preempting state laws, Trump’s December 11 directive required the U.S. Department of Justice to create an “AI Litigation Council” to review “onerous” state laws that do not align with White House positions. States that don’t join could lose eligibility for money intended to expand high-speed internet or face lawsuits.
DeSantis has also called for legislation to prevent Floridians from facing costs associated with massive data centers needed for AI and other technology. He also wants to allow local governments to reject development of the centers, which require large amounts of electricity and water.
Katie Betta, spokeswoman for Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, acknowledged in an email Monday that a separate bill on data centers is in the works.
Leek’s bill came after Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, introduced a bill this month (HB 659) that would, among other things, require users to be notified when interacting with AI “companion chatbots,” with the notices required to say the chatbots “may not be appropriate for some minors.”
“We are increasingly seeing heartbreaking cases in which young people form deep emotional bonds with AI companions, ultimately driving them further toward self-harm,” Hunschofsky said in a prepared statement Friday.
DeSantis and lawmakers have passed two high-profile bills in recent years that would impose restrictions on online platforms — with both measures sparking ongoing legal battles.
Technology industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association are challenging a 2021 law that, among other things, bars platforms from banning political candidates from their sites and requires companies to publish — and consistently apply — standards on things like banning users or blocking their content. DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law after Facebook and Twitter, now known as X, blocked Trump from their platforms after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The appeals court quickly challenged Florida’s law restricting children’s access to social media
NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association are also fighting one Law of 2024 designed to prevent children from accessing certain social media sites. They claim the law violates the First Amendment.
The law prohibits children under the age of 14 from opening accounts on certain platforms — which court documents show could include platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Parents would have to give permission for 14 and 15 year olds to have accounts on the platforms.
