Today, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy introduced a set of principles to support the development of policies and practices for the building, deployment, and governance of automated systems, a “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.”
In response to the introduction of this Blueprint, Lisa Cylar Barrett, Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Director of Policy, issued the following statement:
“We applaud the Biden administration for announcing a set of principles to protect the public from algorithmic bias and other threats to civil rights which occur with the increased use of technology and automated systems. Automated decision-making systems now permeate every area of our lives, from various aspects of employment to efforts to identify and secure housing to our ability to access various services and supports. Yet there are instances when these systems are not only ineffective but also reproduce or exacerbate inequities, bias and discrimination. Appropriately, the Blueprint states that people have a right to be free from algorithmic bias, reaffirms that civil rights laws apply to these systems, recognizes that the public should be fully informed of when these systems are being used and have the opportunity to opt out, and asserts that bias should be tested at all stages in the development and use of automated systems.
“Artificial intelligence and other automated decision-making systems pose significant risk to the civil rights, privacy rights, and safety of our communities. This blueprint marks important progress in the effort to ensure that technology does not cause harm and deepen inequalities. While we are pleased to see the Blueprint acknowledge the dangers of automated decision-making systems, we have deep concerns about exemptions granted in the Blueprint that suggest current and future uses of AI by law enforcement and in national security contexts need not be subjected to the same principles. Indeed, the dangers associated with the use of AI in these contexts are among the most concerning and are particularly acute for Black and Brown communities.
“The Administration must demonstrate the importance of the principles and guidelines within the AI Bill of Rights by embedding the principles within the policies and practices of the federal agencies and within agreements with third parties that contract with federal agencies, including agencies involved in law enforcement and national security. We look forward to working closely with the Biden administration to advance policies that ensure the public is fully protected from automated threats.”
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
