A blueprint for what kind of rights should people have in a world powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been published recently by the US White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). It identifies five principles that must guide the design of policies which will regulate automated systems, according to a release from the White House. The document states that it is critical to guide the design of automated systems in order to “protect the rights of the American public in the age of artificial intelligence”. It is important to ensure that policies enshrine protections of civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy in the draft. What is its scope: The framework uses a two-part test to determine what systems are in scope. It covers automated systems that have the potential to meaningfully impact the American public’s rights, opportunities, or access to critical resources or services. The framework is “sector-agnostic” and was conceived after a year of consultations with various stakeholders, according to the OSTP. The department sought input from people across the country, which includes impacted communities, technology developers and other experts, on the issue of algorithmic and data-driven harms and potential remedies. Why it matters: The white paper is notable because it will prove to be useful to develop policies and practices that protect civil rights and enshrine the deployment and governance of automated systems. It can also serve as a reference for countries looking for guidance to inform their own policies on automated systems. You can…
