As artificial intelligence changes how government agencies conduct surveillance, make decisions and communicate with the public, Florida State University College of Law will co-host a symposium examining what those changes mean for the First Amendment and the public’s right to know.
FSU College of Law is partnering with the First Amendment Foundation to host “Free Speech in the Age of AI” on Thursday, Oct. 22, bringing legal scholars, practitioners and technology experts to Tallahassee for an afternoon of discussion about free speech and government accountability. The event is part of FSU Discovery Days, a weeklong celebration of research, creativity and discovery taking place through Oct. 17-24.
“People need to understand how the government uses artificial intelligence and what legal protections apply when those uses affect their rights,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “We are pleased to partner with the First Amendment Foundation to bring scholars and practitioners together to examine these questions and what they mean for the public.”
“People need to understand how the government uses artificial intelligence and what legal protections apply when those uses affect their rights.”
– Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law
Faculty from FSU and universities across the country will be joined by representatives from the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Florida Center for Government Accountability for three panel discussions. Topics will include the use of facial recognition technology to monitor protests and public demonstrations, public access to records related to government AI systems and legal remedies available when automated decisions infringe on constitutional rights.
The First Amendment Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for free speech, a free press and open government in Florida. Through education, training and advocacy, it helps Floridians understand and exercise their rights to access public records and government meetings.
“The public should be able to understand how government decisions are made, including when artificial intelligence is involved,” said Bob Shaw, board chair of the First Amendment Foundation. “This symposium will examine what access to government records looks like when those records involve AI and how people can seek answers about decisions that affect them.”
The symposium is open to the public and will take place in the College of Law’s Main Classroom Building, Room 101. Registration opens at 1 p.m., and the program begins at 1:30 p.m. In-person attendance is free, with advance registration requested due to limited seating. Online attendance is available for $99 through separate registration.
For additional information and to register, visit the event registration page.