Florida lawmakers are considering a plan to restrict the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting guns in public spaces.
Senator Blaise Ingoglia from Spring Hill and Representative Monique Miller from Palm Bay are leading this effort. They aim to prevent AI gun detection in most places.
Ingoglia expressed his concerns on X, stating, “We should not give up our rights because of technological advances.”
Today, I filed SB562 which restricts the use of artificial intelligence to detect firearms in public spaces.
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… pic.twitter.com/1SsjM7H3Ti
— Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) February 10, 2025
Ingoglia labeled this technology an “infringement” on second and fourth amendment rights. He shares this view with others, including Luis Valdes, the Florida state director of Gun Owners of America. Valdes compared the tech to practices in oppressive regimes, stating, “It’s something that you would expect to happen in North Korea or Russia…not in Florida.”
On the other side of the debate, Sam Alaimo, co-founder of Zero Eyes, defended the technology. He stated that their system only detects guns that are visible, not concealed ones.
Alaimo explained the process: when the software detects something that resembles a gun, an alert appears. A human operator then decides if it’s indeed a gun or a false alarm. This technology is compatible with most security cameras and has gained traction in various Florida school districts.
For instance, the Leon County School Board installed Zero Eyes in 3500 cameras across 42 schools. They consider it a significant improvement in school safety.
Chris Petley, spokesperson for Leon County schools, stated that they have conducted test runs in partnership with local law enforcement to simulate emergency scenarios.
The proposed bill, SB 562, allows for certain exceptions. The technology may still be used in places where concealed weapons are banned, such as schools, police stations, airports, and courthouses. However, municipalities would not be permitted to use these cameras in entertainment districts.
Daytona’s police chief, Jakari Young, believes the technology could have prevented chaos during a shooting incident in 2023. He discussed the benefits it could bring, especially if officers are already nearby when an alert is received.
Though some support the bill, others fear it could cause complications. For example, Valdes raised concerns about the implications if open carry laws are introduced in Florida. Right now, Florida allows concealed carry without a permit.
As lawmakers push for open carry legislation, the discussion about AI gun detection continues. Alaimo assured that their technology can adapt to open carry states, indicating its potential utility in various environments.
The gun detection bill will be up for discussion in the legislative session starting March 4.
Copyright 2025 WFSU
Check out this related article: Florida Lawmakers Push to Ban AI Gun Detection Technology: What It Means for Safety and Privacy
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