| Capitol Beat News Service
It is expected until the General Assembly of 2025 at the beginning of next month is expected that Georgia's legislators have taken the first steps to get under control with the growth of technology for artificial intelligence.
A Committee of the Senate of the Senate passed a house law on Friday, according to which the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) and local governments across the state pass plans for the use of AI and – above all – publish these plans online so that the public can see.
“Transparency is everything,” said Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Holly Springs, chief sponsor of House Bill 147, to members of the Senate Science and Technology Committee. “If we cannot operate a transparent government, democracy begins.”
Legislators in Georgia have worked to regulate AI in recent years. The creation of plans to achieve this goal was at the center of the report of the Senate Study Committee published before this year.
“We have to do that,” said Senator John Albers, R-Roswell, the chair of the study committee. “If we want to stay the number to do business, we have to be number 1 for artificial intelligence.”
In addition to the development of plans to regulate AI, the legislature also wants to criminalize the use of AI in order to create obscene material that represents children. Two legislation with this goal – House Bill 171 and Senate Bill 9 – passed their respective legislative chambers and expected measures on the other side of the Capitol.
Another measure that touches artificial intelligence is the law on Georgia's data protection protection, which the Senate passed with only two “no” voices in the early this month.
“Our personal data is everywhere,” said Albers, Chief Sponsor of Senate Bill 111. “In fact, it becomes a little scary.
Albers' draft law is aimed at companies that “aimed” by selling the personal data of the customers “target market”. Legislation would restrict the sale of such personal information without the customer's permission, the collection of personal information on what is necessary, and give customers the opportunity to delete their personal data.
The measure also gives the Attorney General Georgia the opportunity to enforce the law against violations.
While a representative of Georgia's Technology Association based in Atlanta supported the bill during a house committee last Wednesday, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union said that it would be environmentally harmful to force consumers at the general prosecutor's office.
“Tech companies and other companies have to do something to protect the rights and data and data of consumers,” said Christopher Bruce, the organization of the organization of the organization. “(But) This calculation is incorrect.”
House Bill 147 has now shaped concerns from representatives of local governments that would have to put together plans for the use of AI.
“Is it for small counties that do not use AI or have no plans to put together a report for you?” Asked Todd Edwards, director of government matters at the Commissioners of the Association of Georgia. “This may not be the best use of your time and capital.”
In order to address this problem, changes to Thomas' draft law of the Senate Science and Technology Committee would give local governments until the end of 2027 to determine which AI systems they use. The GTA would have to publish online, as state agencies use by AI by the end of this year.
“This is a transforming enough technology that the public needs to know what's going on,” said Senator Ed Settler, R-Acworth, chairman of the Senate Committee.
The legislator who is working on determining guidelines for the management of the use of AI recognize that the technology is constantly changing. Although Albers' Senate Study Committee completed his work last year, he introduced a resolution in which a new study committee is examined to check what needs to be done to keep up with these changes.
The committee would have to issue results and recommendations until December 1st.
