Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has signed new legislation making the state the first in the nation to protect individuals from government surveillance in their personal finances via the use of central bank digital currency (CBDC).
The new legislation effectively bans the use of a “centralized digital dollar,” otherwise known as CBDC, in the state.
DeSantis had in March urged state lawmakers to draft the bill.
The Republican politician signed the bill on Friday, May 12, sealing his disdain for digital currencies.
Thus, the section of Florida law defining money now says it “does not include a central bank digital currency.”
DeSantis frowned at the United States government’s interest in introducing CBDCs, warning that they could be used to stop people from buying gas to combat global warming or track how often someone purchases firearms.
“Anyone with their eyes open could see the danger this type of an arrangement would mean for Americans who want to exercise their financial independence and would like to be able to conduct business without having the government know every single transaction they’re making in real time,” the Florida governor said at a Friday press conference on the new legislation.
The new legislation also urges other states to take action against the potential introduction of CBDCs through their commercial codes.
The legislation I signed today makes Florida the first state in the nation to protect individuals from government surveillance in their personal finances through a CBDC. https://t.co/d5Og2bvHNe
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 12, 2023
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