What the Justice Department thinks about AI right now

Interagency collaboration on AI equity: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division convened a meeting of federal agency representatives to coordinate efforts on advancing equity in artificial intelligence and protecting civil rights.

• The meeting marked the fourth such gathering, coming nearly a year after President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI Development and Use.
• The Civil Rights Division is tasked with coordinating federal agencies to prevent and address potential discrimination and harm from AI while preserving its potential benefits.

Key developments and initiatives: Several agencies shared recent accomplishments and ongoing efforts to safeguard civil rights in the context of AI and advanced technologies.

• The Justice Department recently held a symposium on combating technology-enabled crime, including AI-facilitated offenses.
• The department played a role in negotiating the first international agreement on AI use that aligns with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
• The Civil Rights Division hired Dr. Laura Edelson as Chief Technologist to expand AI enforcement capacity and improve operational efficiency through technological modernization.

Focus on algorithmic auditing: Agency technologists and researchers discussed the importance of auditing in addressing algorithmic bias and ensuring equitable AI outcomes.

• Auditing is used to verify algorithm accuracy and identify potential historical biases against protected classes.
• This process is crucial for preventing, investigating, monitoring, and remedying discrimination in AI systems.

Agency-specific initiatives: Various federal agencies reported on their efforts to protect civil rights in the AI era through enforcement, policy-making, and outreach.

• The Federal Trade Commission found inadequate privacy controls in large social media and video streaming companies’ user surveillance practices.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission highlighted discriminatory barriers in the high-tech workforce and called for concerted efforts to address them.
• The Department of Labor developed resources to help employers consider disability inclusion and accessibility in AI-driven hiring technologies.
• The Department of Education issued guidance reminding AI developers in the education sector of their shared responsibility to advance equity and protect students’ civil rights.

Broad participation and collaboration: The convening included representatives from numerous federal departments and agencies, demonstrating a whole-of-government approach to AI equity issues.

• Attendees came from departments such as Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Treasury.
• Independent agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Federal Trade Commission were also represented.

Commitment to ongoing cooperation: Participating agencies pledged to continue working together to protect the public from potential harms associated with increased AI use and reliance.

• The group agreed to collaborate on stakeholder engagement regarding their collective efforts to advance equity and civil rights in AI.
• This commitment underscores the recognition of AI’s far-reaching implications across various sectors and the need for a coordinated government response.

Public resources and information: The Civil Rights Division has created a centralized webpage to provide information on its AI and civil rights work.

• The resource offers guidance on how advanced technologies can lead to unlawful discrimination and outlines the division’s role in assisting victims.
• It also includes key resources on AI and civil rights from various federal enforcement agencies, serving as a valuable tool for public awareness and education.

Analyzing deeper: Balancing innovation and protection: As AI continues to advance rapidly, this interagency effort reflects the government’s attempt to strike a balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding civil rights. The focus on auditing and agency-specific initiatives suggests a nuanced approach to regulation, recognizing that different sectors may require tailored solutions. However, the effectiveness of these efforts will largely depend on the agencies’ ability to keep pace with technological developments and enforce guidelines in a rapidly evolving landscape.