Lawmakers consider harms of artificial intelligence, social media, particularly for children

Georgia General Assembly is introducing several bills to regulate the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on issues like obscenity, privacy erosion, and identity exploitation, especially concerning children.
Senate Bill 398, targeting “virtual peeping” where AI creates explicit images, was passed with a bipartisan vote, highlighting deep concerns over AI’s impact.
Efforts to regulate social media algorithms began in 2024 with a law that was blocked by a federal court decision on free speech grounds; a new bill (SB 495) on regulating social media algorithms did not advance.
Other bills aiming at protecting children from AI, like SB 540, SB 418, and SB 488, have passed committee stages and could see further legislative action.
Many bills face opposition from the tech industry and free speech advocates, who argue that the measures might hamper innovation and expose private information.
Critics like Sen. Sally Harrell argue that the legislature has yet to implement comprehensive measures addressing online child safety effectively.

Lawmakers consider harms of artificial intelligence, social media, particularly for children | News