Florida Lawmakers Advance Bills Making It Easier for Public Figures to Sue Media

Creators of artificial intelligence “deep fakes” also could be held liable for damaging the reputations of those impersonated.

The historic Old Florida State Capitol building in front of the current high-rise Capitol building in Tallahassee, Fla, on Nov. 10, 2018. Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

Florida lawmakers are advancing twin bills through the Florida House and Senate that would make it easier to file defamation lawsuits against the media and creators of “deepfake” impersonations using artificial intelligence (AI).

Companion bills HB 757 and SB 1780 have drawn criticism for provisions that would make it more difficult for media outlets to defend against accusations that they acted with “actual malice” when publishing reports on public figures using anonymous sources.