Biden has previously called for stronger privacy protections and an end to data collection by tech companies. But the United States, home to some of the world's largest technology and artificial intelligence companies, remains one of the few Western countries that lacks clear guidelines on how to protect its citizens from the harms of artificial intelligence.
Today's announcement is the White House's vision for how the US government, tech companies, and citizens can work together to hold AI accountable. However, critics say the plan lacks effectiveness and that the US needs stricter regulation of artificial intelligence.
In September, the administration announced key policies for technology reform and accountability, such as ending discriminatory algorithmic decision-making, encouraging competition in the technology sector, and ensuring federal privacy protections.
The Artificial Intelligence Rights Act, first envisioned a year ago by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), a US government agency that advises the president on science and technology, is a model for how to achieve these goals. . . It provides practical guidance to government agencies and calls on technology companies, researchers, and civil society to develop these safeguards.
"These technologies are causing real harm to American life, harm that runs counter to our fundamental democratic values, including the fundamental rights to privacy, non-discrimination, and our fundamental dignity," a senior administration official told The Associated Press. . .
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that is transforming our society. It can cause serious harm, often disproportionately affecting minorities. The facial recognition technology used for monitoring and algorithms that identify benefits are less accurate for ethnic minorities, for example.
The new plan aims to restore this balance. He said Americans should be protected from insecure or ineffective systems; that algorithms should be non-discriminatory and that systems should be used as designed on a fair basis; Citizens should have the right to control their data and be protected from data misuse through built-in safeguards. Citizens also need to know when an automated system is being used for them and understand how it contributes to the outcome. Finally, people should always be able to opt out of using AI systems in favor of a human alternative and access legal remedies if problems arise.
“We want to make sure that we protect people from the worst harms of this technology, regardless of the specific technological processes that are used,” said a second senior administration official.
