Florida legal actions regarding artificial intelligence

Florida officials, led by Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, have initiated several legal actions targeting the regulation and safety of artificial intelligence.

The state has pursued litigation against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company released an unsafe product that facilitates violence and self-harm. These allegations remain claims and have not been established as findings of liability. Additionally, the state sought a temporary injunction in September to prevent OpenAI from developing new models without stringent safety safeguards.

Further legal efforts have targeted the sexual exploitation of children through AI. The Office of Statewide Prosecution filed a civil lawsuit against Rengstorff Consulting Ltd., the operator of the A2E artificial intelligence platform. The lawsuit alleges deceptive trade practices, claiming the software enables the creation of illicit imagery involving minors and allows users to ‘nudify’ non-consenting individuals. This follows a criminal investigation into an individual facing felony counts related to the possession and transmission of child sexual abuse material.