Senate panel favors bill requiring foreign social media companies reveal info to state users

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida Senate committee advanced a bill Tuesday requiring foreign social media companies operating in the state to reveal their information to users.

Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, filed SB 1448.

“SB 1448 creates transparency and an equal playing field with requirements for foreign adversary owned entities,” Gruters said to the committee. “This bill will address the misinformation and blatant propaganda from foreign adversaries to influence users of all ages while protecting their privacy.”

Under the legislation, foreign adversaries while operating in Florida are required to disclose their social media platforms, content creation and algorithms.

Those factors, according to Gruters, influence content ranking, misinformation and harmful content.

“The source code of its algorithm will be made publicly available and implement a user verification system for each user and organization that purchases political or social advertisements,” Gruters said.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice passed the bill unanimously.

Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, asked how social media platforms will show their algorithm and how it will be managed.

“It would all be managed by the by the Department of Legal Affairs, they would have to submit it,” Gruters said. “This is a lot less than what they require of American owned companies that operate in there. If you’re an American owned company, and you do business in some of these countries, they require the entire source code. We’re not requesting that. All we’re requiring is the algorithm be presented.”

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, filed a similar to SB 1448.

SB 1448 now moves to Fiscal Policy for approval. It will take effect, if fully, passed on July 1.