Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, announced on April 8 a proposed legislation to hold technology companies criminally liable when their artificial intelligence systems "assist or facilitate" the commission of crimes. The rule would apply to companies that own, control, or distribute AI systems, including those with control over the development, training, deployment, and safety mechanisms of their products.
The consequences outlined in the proposal include steep fines, payment of compensation to victims, court oversight, and in the most serious cases, suspension of the companies' activities in Florida. Uthmeier argues that a chatbot cannot be criminally prosecuted like a person, but that this should not prevent holding the company responsible for designing, training, and commercializing the technology accountable.
The proposal comes as the attorney general's office conducts an investigation involving ChatGPT, expanded to a criminal investigation related to Phoenix Ikner, accused of the 2025 shooting at Florida State University, which left two people dead and five injured. Authorities have also cited concerns about AI-generated scams and child sexual abuse material generated by AI, an area where Florida has already toughened penalties this year.
The detailed text of the legislation has not yet been released, and key points such as the level of chatbot participation necessary to hold a company liable remain undefined. Uthmeier stated that he has already spoken with interested legislators and that the bill will be discussed during the regular legislative session scheduled for March, unless Governor Ron DeSantis calls a special session. The attorney general made clear that the proposal is not intended to ban AI, but rather to allow for the development of technology while holding companies accountable when their products cross lines.
