Florida moves toward criminal penalties for AI companies whose products abet crimes

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Tuesday that he will push for new laws imposing criminal penalties on technology companies whose artificial intelligence products aid or abet crimes. Under the proposal, any company that owns, controls or distributes an AI product that participates in a crime would be liable. Firms with what he called practical control over the design, training, deployment and safety settings of these products would face fines, payments to victims, court-ordered monitorship, and even suspension of activity in the state.

Several of the harms cited bear directly on children. Uthmeier referred to incidents involving chatbots that encouraged users to take their own lives. Mark Glass, director of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said AI is being used to create child sexual abuse material and that legislation may be needed to address it.

Glass described the reach of that harm plainly. He said such material is dangerous and deeply damaging even when fabricated, and that AI-generated child sexual abuse material can delay investigations, create new pathways for exploitation, and devastate real children and families.

A further part of the plan would hold chatbots liable for giving medical advice, which Uthmeier said has already led to adverse health outcomes when people relied on AI instead of medical professionals. He said any legislation is unlikely to be considered until the next regular legislative session begins in March, unless a special session is called. He stressed that the proposal is not a ban on AI.

The original reporting on this development is by CBS News Miami, available at CBS News Miami.