Inside Florida's push to regulate AI
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Gov. Ron DeSantis wants Florida to regulate AI — and his proposal has already drawn criticism from President Trump and Big Tech.
Why it matters: State lawmakers have sought to rein in everything from social media to porn websites, efforts that have resulted in litigation and, in some cases, led companies to block access across the entire state.
Driving the news: Senate Bill 482 would give parents the legal right to supervise, access, limit and control their children's use of artificial intelligence.
- It would also prohibit state or local government agencies from using AI technology, software or products provided by an entity owned by a "government of concern," like China.
- Plus, companies would be required to notify consumers when they are interacting with AI chatbots.
Zoom in: The bill runs afoul of an executive order Trump signed last month, which called for AI to be regulated exclusively at the federal level, and builds on prior legislation passed in Florida.
- In 2024, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring political advertisements that use AI-generated images, video, audio or text to inform viewers of their use.
- Then, in 2025, state lawmakers made it a third-degree felony to "willfully and knowingly" create, solicit or possess AI-generated pornographic images or videos of someone without their consent.
What they're saying: "Our AI proposal will establish an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights to define and safeguard Floridians' rights," DeSantis said in a press release, "including data privacy [and] parental controls."
Friction point: The Computer and Communications Industry Association, which represents Apple, Google and Meta and has challenged Florida's law that limits social media access for children, opposed the bill.
- "Artificial intelligence systems are developed, trained, and deployed on a national and global scale," the group wrote in a letter.
- "Fragmented state laws make it challenging for a company to deploy more features and services in a particular state, and risk undermining online free expression," it went on.
What's next: The bill has two committee stops before it reaches the Senate floor.