Big Tech

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the proposed "Safe Screens Act," new legislation aimed at tightening restrictions on minors' use of social media and AI chatbots. The proposal builds on Florida's existing ban on social media accounts for users under 14, recently upheld by the Eleventh Circuit, by adding further requirements for parental control and platform design aimed at curbing addictive features. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under state law, carrying fines of up to $50,000 per incident. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd voiced support, praising Uthmeier's focus on child safety against large tech and gaming companies. The bill would need legislative approval to take effect.

Representatives from Google, Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic testified before the New York City Council on Monday as lawmakers examined risks posed by artificial intelligence and weighed a package of 10 proposed bills aimed at creating guardrails and accountability mechanisms for AI companies operating in the city. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon also testified at the hearing, which was accompanied by a council oversight news conference.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani had raised concerns ahead of the hearing, saying officials remain far behind in understanding the scale of what AI companies are developing and cautioning against framing regulation solely as part of a competitive race with China. The hearing follows a White House event last week attended by the same companies, where President Trump announced the creation of a "Super Intelligence Force." The proceedings reflect intensifying scrutiny of AI firms by local governments even as federal policy leans toward encouraging rapid development.

A new UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research-POLITICO poll finds that 51% of registered California voters oppose the construction of new data centers to power AI, while roughly a quarter support it. Opposition rises to 61% when respondents are asked about a data center being sited in their own community, a finding poll co-director Jack Citrin attributes to a strong desire for local control.

The sentiment reflects broader public unease about AI's growth, though data centers rank low among voters' overall priorities, with just 3% naming AI or data centers as the state's most important issue. Views split sharply by party: 45% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents back new data centers, versus about an eighth of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Several California cities, including San Francisco, Monterey Park, and Fresno, have passed or are weighing bans on new facilities, despite industry warnings that data centers are essential infrastructure for the state's tech-driven economy. Governors in Texas, Pennsylvania, and California have all shown growing openness to regulating the sector.

New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, who led the state's push to regulate artificial intelligence before losing a bid for Congress, says he wants another shot at Big Tech regulation before leaving office and would back a special legislative session in Albany. Bores argues New York should stop deferring to California on AI standards, pointing to his state's tech talent and his own $30 million group aimed at shaping a Democratic AI agenda. Governor Kathy Hochul's office says no special session is currently planned, even as California Governor Gavin Newsom has floated recalling lawmakers to Sacramento and signed an executive order to speed up enforcement of AI safety laws, including a possible "kill switch" requirement for advanced models.

The state-level activity comes as public alarm over AI risks grows, fueled partly by warnings from within the industry itself and a widespread expectation that Congress will not act soon. New York regulators recently ordered utilities to report AI usage, and Attorney General Letitia James has urged AI company employees to report rule violations. Democratic state lawmakers returning to Albany in January are weighing options and bracing for tech-industry pushback.