There is nothing more heartbreaking than a parent losing a child to a senseless tragedy, be it due to drugs, violence, disease, accidents or the unintended consequences of engaging with an AI bot. But when the unimaginable occurs through the predatory and unregulated world of online chatbots, as was shared by a Central Florida mother, whose 14-year-old son committed suicide after establishing a relationship with a companion chatbot, we must take action to reign in these faceless accomplices, and we can’t wait for Congress to get its act together.
Florida has led the way in regulating online technology companies and their addictive algorithms targeting our youth, but at times it has become a whack-a-mole approach. Once we witness the consequences of dangerous and salacious online conversations, however, Florida takes immediate measures, never standing idly by while lives are at stake.
Senate Bill 482: Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights legislation is no different when it comes to protecting our youth, our families and our livelihoods.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and I will be working with members of the Florida Legislature and key stakeholders in presenting thoughtful and commonsense guidelines in addressing the ever-emerging field of artificial intelligence, or AI. It touches on everything from deceptive online conversations to one’s name, image and likeness (NIL) being used without one’s consent, to data breeches of personal information, to having AI make decisions on behalf of mental health counseling with no human component whatsoever.
This stops now.
Floridians are entitled to protections with respect to artificial intelligence to improve their own lives and the lives of family members, fellow residents and the world at large in accordance with the law — including the right to supervise, access, limit and control their minor children’s use of AI.
We have the right to know if we are communicating with a human being or an AI system, program or chatbot. This bill mandates that at the beginning of an interaction between a user and a bot, and at least once every hour during the interaction, an operator shall display a pop-up message notifying users that they are not engaging in dialogue with a human counterpart.
We also have the right to know if AI technology companies are collecting personal information or biometric data, and if they are protecting that data in accordance with Florida law. This information should not be sold or identified with the individual user.
Moreover, when it comes to companion chatbots, this legislation will prohibit a minor from entering into a contract with the platform, unless there is parental consent. Should a minor receive consent, there will still be safeguards in place for guardians to receive timely notifications if the account holder expresses to the companion chatbot a desire or an intent to engage in self-harm or to harm others.
Parents will also be able to receive copies of interactions between their child and the companion chatbot as well as the ability to limit those interactions — and the ability to terminate the account within 10 days of the request.
I agree with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that there should not be a myriad of state laws across the country contradicting federal oversight. Yet, these measures have yet to be drafted, debated or presented at the national level. We also congratulate him on his compassionate leadership in reiterating that he is committed to protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of children in the digital age.
SB 482 will do just that.
Congress routinely fails to act timely and executive orders are temporary, by definition. Protecting our citizens and children is too important and simply cannot wait on the feds to act.
Our state has never shirked its sacred responsibility to protect its citizens. Empowering Floridians with an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights is the first step toward taking control of a technology that, left unchecked, may cause irreparable harm to our children, our families and our way of life.
State Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2024 having served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016-2022. He currently serves as Chair of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
