AI industry battles over regulation with new tactic in Florida

Florida has become the latest proving ground for the AI industry’s influence machine, as political groups deploy fresh lobbying tactics to shape how the state governs artificial intelligence. All 50 states introduced AI-related legislation in 2025, but Florida’s approach, complete with a governor-backed “AI Bill of Rights,” has drawn particularly aggressive industry attention. Governor Ron DeSantis proposed the AI Bill of Rights on December 4, 2025, a sweeping framework targeting consumer protections, data privacy, parental controls, and consent requirements around the use of personal likenesses. The regulatory chessboard Florida’s legislative push extends well beyond the governor’s proposal. The state Senate passed SB 484 unanimously, a bill that regulates energy consumption by AI data centers. Separately, HB 919 took effect on July 1, 2024, requiring disclaimers on political advertisements that use generative AI content. The AI Bill of Rights tackles the consumer-facing side of the equation. Consent requirements for personal likenesses aim to address the growing problem of AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorized uses of someone’s image or voice. Parental controls signal that legi...