FTC Chair, Agency Heads Affirm Commitment to AI Fairness

Enforcers are committed to protecting consumers against bias and discrimination in artificial intelligence and automated systems, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a joint statement Tuesday with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra, DOJ Civil Rights Division Chief Kristen Clarke and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Charlotte Burrows. “Private and public entities use these systems to make critical decisions that impact individuals’ rights and opportunities, including fair and equal access to a job, housing, credit opportunities, and other goods and services,” they said. “Although many of these tools offer the promise of advancement, their use also has the potential to perpetuate unlawful bias, automate unlawful discrimination, and produce other harmful outcomes.” Enforcers will “vigorously use” the agencies’ “collective authorities” to protect individuals’ rights, they said.