AI Bill of Rights Blueprint Can Protect Individuals from Bias and Discrimination, Implementation Will Be Critical

Center for Civil Rights and Technology News 10.4.22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mattie Goldman, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the White House’s Blueprint for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bill of Rights:

“This blueprint lays out important principles that can help establish rules of the road to move us toward unlocking AI’s promise, while guarding against its risks. We all need to know that AI is safe and effective, rather than discriminating wrongfully and making vulnerable people less so. As technology continues to revolutionize commerce, government, and culture, it can also turbocharge discriminatory treatment in employment, housing, lending, and the criminal-legal system. That’s why The Leadership Conference joined a broad range of allies to urge the Biden administration to protect civil rights whenever AI is designed, developed, and deployed, and why we commend the administration for this major effort.

“The AI Bill of Rights identifies important next steps for public and private entities to ensure that technology is used to enhance, not undermine, civil rights. How these proposals are put into practice at the federal, state, and local levels will determine whether the blueprint delivers on its intended outcomes and whether technological development bends toward justice. We look forward to working with the White House, Congress, industry, and stakeholders to ensure that technology serves the best interests of all of us.”

The Leadership Conference, along with more than 80 organizations, last year urged the White House to place a high priority on ensuring that AI and other data-driven technologies protect civil rights, prevent unlawful discrimination, and advance equal opportunity. That letter is available here.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

###