Bill would keep certain Florida bot and data investigations confidential

Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs would withhold violation reports and investigation records from public access. The rules cover consumer protection cases involving companion chatbots used by minors, bots, and data with identifying details removed. Officials could share information for their official duties or another government agency’s official duties. Officials could release information to notify the public or find suspected victims of improper use or disposal of customer records. They could not use this exception to release information protected after investigations end. The rules would start when SB 2-D or similar legislation takes effect, if adopted in the same session or an extension and becoming law. They would expire on October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers renew them.

Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs would keep certain sensitive records confidential after an investigation ends or becomes inactive. Protection covers personal identifying details, computer evidence reports, security weaknesses, qualifying private business information, and records already protected by other laws. Protected business information must be company-owned or controlled, intended and treated as private because disclosure would cause harm, unavailable publicly in the same form, and harmful to the company’s competitive position if released. Any previous disclosure of that business information must have been required by law or made under a private agreement barring public release. The rules would start when SB 2-D or similar legislation takes effect, if adopted in the same session or an extension and becoming law. They would expire on October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers renew them.