The DeSantis plan outlines privacy rules, parental controls, and restrictions on hyperscale data centers as Florida moves toward comprehensive AI regulation.
Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a comprehensive legislative proposal aimed at regulating artificial intelligence in Florida through what he called a “Citizen Bill of Rights for AI.” The plan includes sweeping protections for privacy, consumer rights, and children, as well as new restrictions on the construction and operation of hyperscale AI data centers.
At a news conference in The Villages, DeSantis framed the legislation as necessary to protect Floridians from what he described as unchecked technological growth and potential harms associated with AI. Citing concerns about personal privacy, image and likeness exploitation, and potential mental health risks, he argued that guardrails are needed before AI becomes pervasive in daily life.
One of the proposal’s core aims is to prevent AI from using an individual’s name, image, or likeness (NIL) without consent, especially in contexts such as political ads, product promotions, or schemes that could defraud users. The bill would require companies deploying chatbots or AI tools to clearly notify consumers when they are interacting with an AI rather than a human.
It also includes renewed protections against “deepfakes,” especially content that depicts minors or involves explicit material. Parental-control measures are another major feature: parents could access transcripts of their children’s conversations with AI chatbots, set usage limits, and receive notifications if their children exhibit concerning behavior.
Beyond individual protections, the proposal targets the infrastructure behind AI: hyperscale data centers. The plan would allow local governments to block such centers, prevent utilities from shifting costs to residents to support these facilities, and ban taxpayer subsidies for large tech projects. It would also impose environmental safeguards, including restrictions on water use, noise protections, and site location rules.
DeSantis warned the public that without regulation, the rapid expansion of AI could lead to “an age of darkness and deceit.” He used the tragic example of a Florida mother who lost her 14-year-old son to suicide after he interacted with a customizable AI chatbot.
The governor emphasized that the proposed legislation comes in response to what he sees as a gap in federal oversight. He also criticized efforts in Washington to preempt state-level AI regulation, arguing that individual states must retain the right and the responsibility to protect their citizens.
If passed, the “AI Bill of Rights” would be among the most ambitious statewide efforts to regulate AI deployment, data center development, and digital safety for consumers, particularly children, in the United States.
