TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new bill filed in the Florida Legislature on Monday is aimed at artificial intelligence and firearms.
Senate Bill 562 — filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-11 — would explicitly prohibit using any A.I. technology to detect firearms in public places. An identical bill was filed in the House by Rep. Monique Miller, R-33.
“Artificial intelligence may not be used, including, but not limited to, in conjunction with any camera, video recording, or live-streaming device, to detect firearms in public areas,” the bill’s text reads.
If the bill is approved during the upcoming Legislative session, then anyone who violates the rule could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.
Sen. Ingoglia took to social media on Monday morning to discuss the intentions behind the legislation, which he says helps to protect residents’ constitutional rights.
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“Utilizing AI to detect whether a law-abiding citizen is carrying a concealed firearm is nothing but a technological infringement upon both our 2nd and 4th Amendment rights,” he wrote. “We should NOT give up our rights because of technological advancements.”
The new legislation comes after Daytona Beach decided to invest in a new system, dubbed “ZeroEyes,” that uses A.I. to detect firearms through security cameras. These cameras were planned to be installed along the Seabreeze Boulevard entertainment district, alongside Main Street, Joe Harris Park and the boardwalk.
“I’m for it,” said Ken Strickland, Daytona Beach commissioner for Zone 2. “I think it’s a good idea. It could save lives.”
The A.I. technology is designed to detect guns that are visible to cameras equipped with its software. The images are then sent to ZeroEyes’ operation center. The city says if there is a valid threat, the police will get an alert.
News 6 spoke with Strickland on Monday night about the new bill. He disagreed with Ingoglia’s characterization of the technology’s use.
“It doesn’t detect a concealed weapon,” Strickland argued. “It only detects a weapon when it’s brandished in public.”
Daytona Police Chief Jakari Young walked through a potential scenario while speaking with News 6 last month.
“From the moment a firearm is brandished, you will get an alert, and they actually put a box around the firearm. They’re not just solely trusting the technology. They have a live human being in a monitoring center,” Police Chief Jakari Young told News 6 last month.
When reached for comment about the bill, ZeroEyes’ Co-Founder and CEO Sam Alaimo sent the following to News 6:
“In the past week, we’ve had multiple arrests in major cities for people brandishing weapons where they should not be. Anyone who says we cannot do this at scale and do this effectively is mistaken.”
The bill does carve out some exceptions, including the following locations:
- School campuses
- Police stations and sheriff’s offices
- Courthouses
- Detention centers, prisons and jails
- Polling places
- Career centers
- Bars and other businesses that primarily sell alcohol
- Airports
- Meetings of county commissions or school boards
If approved, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
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