The Florida Senate Rules Committee on Thursday passed SB 850 (HB 919), a bill that could impede the use of generative artificial intelligence, or “Gen AI,” in political advertising. Just as people begin preparing to vote in a presidential election year, AI is becoming more powerful than ever. AI is the ability to quickly create fake images, voices, and other sounds. WESH 2 News previously profiled how AI was used to distort relationships with disease experts against former President Donald Trump. Dr. Anthony Fauci during the coronavirus pandemic. The former president’s words and images were manipulated to show him hugging Fauci and saying, “I’m not going to fire him. I think he’s a great person.” The ad was created last year. A group supporting Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his unsuccessful bid for the White House. Just weeks after an AI voice resembling President Joe Biden hit New Hampshire voters’ cell phones, the Federal Communications Commission has banned AI-generated voices in robocalls. “The purpose of the depiction is to harm candidates or mislead them on voting issues,” Republican Sen. Nick DeCegree, R-St. Petersburg, told the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday. Mr. DeCegree is the sponsor of the Senate version of the bill that would add this disclaimer to all political communications. “This is to let the public know that artificial intelligence is being used in certain political ads,” Deselier said. Required disclaimers in advertisements include those appearing on television, radio, the Internet, and in the mail. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor As for who specifically could be punished for violating the AI immunity clause, Senate Minority Leader Lauren, a Democrat from South Florida, said: “It could be the nominee or the attorney who approves,” Book asked. “The facts will determine who is in charge of advertising,” Deselier said. Consumer watchdog Common Cause opposed the move, saying it would not force a campaign to remove ads that do not include disclaimers. “While the (enforcement) process proceeds, Floridians will remain exposed to that harmful material and operational information,” the executive said. “However, in an unusually bipartisan fashion, the AI bill passed the Rules Committee unanimously 20-0, raising the bar for potential regulation of this controversial new election tool,” director Amy Keith said. “It was sent to the Senate floor. State action on artificial intelligence in politics is likely to have no impact.” When it comes to ads for federal candidates, only Congress can do that, and currently Congress does not require federal election ads to be truthful, but the U.S. House of Representatives’ Authentic Political Advertising Act ”, the bill would require a disclaimer regarding AI in politics. If SB 850/HB 919 is passed and becomes law, Florida’s new disclaimer rules would go into effect on July 1st.
The Florida Senate Rules Committee passed SB 850 (HB 919) on Thursday, a measure that could impede the use of generative artificial intelligence, or “Gen AI,” in political advertising.
Just as people prepare to vote in a presidential election year, the likelihood that they will be targeted by Gen AI is greater than ever.
AI is the ability to quickly create fake images, voices, and other sounds.
WESH 2 News previously showed how this information was used to skew former President Donald Trump’s relationship with disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic. did.
The former president’s words and images were manipulated to show him hugging Fauci and saying, “I’m not going to fire him. I think he’s a great guy.”
The ad was created by a group supporting Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made an unsuccessful bid for the White House last year.
The Federal Communications Commission has banned AI-generated voices in robocalls, just weeks after an AI voice resembling President Joe Biden arrived on New Hampshire voters’ cell phones.
“The purpose of this depiction is to harm candidates and to mislead them on voting issues,” Republican St. Petersburg state Sen. Nick DeCegree told the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday.
Deselier is the sponsor of the Senate version of a bill that would add a disclaimer to all political communications that says they were “created in whole or in part using generative artificial intelligence.”
“This is to let the public know that artificial intelligence is being used in certain political ads,” Deselier said.
Required disclaimers for advertising also include advertising on television, radio, the Internet, and mailers.
Violators may be subject to misdemeanor criminal charges and civil penalties by the Florida Board of Elections.
Asked who exactly could be punished for violating the AI immunity clause, Senate Minority Leader Loren Book, Democrat of South Florida, asked: What action was taken? ”
“The facts will determine who is in charge of advertising,” DiCelier said.
Consumer watchdog Common Cause opposes the move, saying it does not force campaigns to remove ads without a disclaimer.
“While the (enforcement) process continues, Floridians will remain exposed to that harmful material and manipulated information,” said Executive Director Amy Keith.
But in an unusually bipartisan move, the AI bill passed the Rules Committee unanimously 20-0, sending potential regulations for the controversial new election tool to the Senate floor.
National action on artificial intelligence in politics probably won’t affect advertising for federal candidates. That’s because only Congress can do that, and Congress currently does not require federal election ads to be truthful.
But a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives called the Authentic Political Advertising Act would require disclaimers about AI in political ads.
If SB 850/HB 919 is passed and becomes law, Florida’s new disclaimer rules would go into effect on July 1st.
