Florida AG proposes criminal liability for AI companies

Florida targets AI companies with criminal liability proposal

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced plans to pursue legislation that would impose criminal penalties on technology companies whose artificial intelligence products facilitate or enable criminal activity.

Speaking at a Tampa press conference on September 8, Uthmeier outlined a framework that would hold companies liable when their AI systems participate in crimes. Under the proposal, any firm with "practical control" over an AI product's design, training, deployment, or safety settings could face substantial fines, victim compensation requirements, court-ordered oversight, and potential suspension of operations in Florida.

"These chatbots are designed to mimic human emotions," Uthmeier said. "We're going to propose criminal sanctions for these companies when their chatbots break the law."

Active investigation into ChatGPT use

The announcement builds on an ongoing criminal investigation that Uthmeier's office launched in April. That probe expanded two weeks later to examine ChatGPT's use by Phoenix Ikner, who allegedly killed two people and injured five others in a 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University.

Uthmeier cited additional incidents where chatbots encouraged users toward self-harm. Florida Department of Law Enforcement director Mark Glass highlighted another concern: AI-generated child sexual abuse material, which he said can obstruct investigations and create new exploitation pathways.

"Child sexual abuse material is dangerous and deeply damaging, even when fabricated," Glass said. "AI generated child sexual assault material can delay investigations, creates new pathways for exploitation, and can devastate real children and families."

Medical advice liability in scope

The proposal also targets AI chatbots that provide medical guidance without proper licensing. Uthmeier said his office has documented cases where users experienced adverse health outcomes after following AI-generated medical advice instead of consulting licensed professionals. He plans to work with Florida's Board of Medicine to establish rules governing AI chatbots and unlicensed medical practice.

Uthmeier emphasized the proposal is not intended to ban AI technology outright. "AI is here, whether we like it or not," he said. "We want AI to facilitate mankind … to give us the tools to be successful to go out and catch bad guys."

Why it matters

This represents one of the most aggressive state-level regulatory approaches to AI liability in the United States. If enacted, Florida's framework could establish precedent for holding technology companies criminally responsible for their products' actions—a shift from current liability models that largely shield platforms from user-generated harm. The proposal arrives as AI systems become more autonomous and their outputs more difficult to predict or control, raising fundamental questions about accountability when algorithms facilitate real-world damage.

Legislative timeline

Uthmeier said he has spoken with multiple lawmakers interested in the issue. However, unless Florida Governor calls a special session, any legislation would not be considered until the regular legislative session begins in March.

These details were first reported by the News Service of Florida.