No to the AI Bill That Expands Surveillance

I urge you to strongly oppose SS SCS SB1012, as amended. While the bill claims to regulate artificial intelligence, it largely serves to protect corporate power, punish vulnerable people, and avoid real accountability. The “AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act” creates a false crisis. No one is seriously trying to marry an AI system or grant it personhood. This language distracts from the real issue: corporations using AI to cut costs while shifting blame away from themselves. The bill does hold owners and operators liable for harm, but it also creates loopholes for developers and manufacturers. It allows product liability claims while burying enforcement under layers of legal complexity that favor well-funded tech companies. The amendments are worse. The “GUARD Act” requires age verification for companion chatbots. This forces users to hand over government IDs or biometric data to third parties, creating massive privacy risks. It does nothing to address the root causes of youth isolation or harm, instead pushing young people toward unregulated platforms. The bill also fines developers up to $100,000 per violation for chatbots that “encourage” self-harm or sexual content with minors, but the language is so broad that it will chill free expression and drive support services offline. The deepfake provision criminalizes disclosure of synthetic media with intent to harm, but it exempts broadcasters and news outlets. This protects legacy media while leaving ordinary people vulnerable to prosecution for sharing manipulated content, even when exposing corruption or abuse. If anything, SB 1012 must be amended to prevent AI from being used to breach Missourians' rights against non-consented searches, seizures, and self-incrimination without a warrant. AI should also not be used for data collection to classify Missourians on any sort of list. The current bill does the opposite. This bill does not protect workers, patients, or young people. It expands surveillance, protects corporate liability shields, and uses moral panic to justify punitive measures. We need AI regulation that prioritizes public ownership, democratic control, worker power, and real privacy protections, not this collection of industry-friendly, punishment-focused provisions. I urge a no vote.