White House releases AI Bill of Rights

On October 4, the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. The blueprint is a nonbinding guidance document that advises on the design and use of automated systems “that have the potential to meaningfully impact the American public’s rights, opportunities, or access to critical resources or services.” The blueprint applies across areas as diverse as the criminal justice system and health care, including the use of automated systems in employment. It demonstrates the Biden administration’s support for broad regulation of these tools.

The blueprint lays out five general principles “to help guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems to protect the rights of the American public.” These principles are (1) the need to create safe and effective automated systems, (2) preventing algorithmic discrimination against individuals based on their protected classes, (3) data privacy, (4) providing notice/explanation of technology’s use to affected individuals, and (5) providing individuals with the opportunity to “opt out” of the technology.