Groundbreaking ‘Right to Compute’ legislation signed into law
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News from Kyle Schmauch, MT Senate Republicans
HELENA — An innovative and groundbreaking technology bill sponsored by Senator Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, has been signed into law.
Senate Bill 212, the “Right to Compute Act,” protects Montanans fundamental free speech and property rights by preventing the government from restricting citizens’ use of computer technologies without a compelling state interest, the highest legal standard that also safeguards constitutional rights.
With SB 212, Montana is now the first state in the nation to recognize computation as an extension of constitutional free speech and property rights.
“Computation is speech, and freedom of speech is a fundamental right of all people in America,” Zolnikov said. “As governments around the world and in our own country try to crack down on individual freedom and gain state control over modern technologies, Montana is doing the opposite by protecting freedom and restraining the government.”
SB 212 establishes Montana as one of the most friendly places in the world to developing technologies like artificial intelligence. At the same time, SB 212 requires critical infrastructure facilities to form annual contingency plans regarding any potential loss of control over decision-making AI systems.
“We’re allowing maximum innovation while protecting human interests and public safety at the same time,” Zolnikov said. “In Montana, we’re not choosing between freedom and safety, we’re embracing both.”
