S.T.O.P. Warns NYC A.I. Hiring Bill Will ‘Rubber-Stamp’ Discrimination, Urges Veto

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Warns NYC A.I. Hiring Bill Will ‘Rubber-stamp’ Discrimination, Urges Veto   (NEW YORK, NY, 11/11/2021) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based civil rights group, warns that New York City’s Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) hiring bill will “rubber-stamp” discrimination, urging Mayor de Blasio to veto the measure. Yesterday, the New York City Council passed Introduction 1894, which would regulate use of A.I. hiring tools in New York. The group warned that the bill’s weak provisions were likely to backfire, enabling more use of biased AI software.   SEE: Text of Introduction 1894 https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4344524&GUID=B051915D-A9AC-451E-81F8-6596032FA3F9&Options=Advanced&Search   Crain’s New York - Employers must demonstrate AI hiring fairness https://www.crainsnewyork.com/technology/new-york-city-council-approve-law-requiring-ai-hiring-tools-be-audited-bias “New York should be outlawing biased tech, not supporting it,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn. “This bill will protect civil rights in name only. City agencies already told lawmakers they are unable to enforce the law. Biased A.I. software is putting New Yorkers’ livelihoods at risk, but this bill can’t solve the problem. Rather than blocking discrimination, this weak measure will encourage more companies to use biased and invasive AI tools. New York had the chance to be a leader in combating biased A.I., but if this bill is signed into law, we’ll become a leader in supporting discriminatory tech. Mayor de Blasio must act to stop this misguided law from going into effect.”   Last year, the civil rights group led an effort by a dozen organizations to oppose the legislation. While the City Council adopted some of the improvements that advocates suggested, the final version fell far short of their demands. SEE: Sign-on Letter https://www.stopspying.org/s/Intro-1894-Sign-On-Letter-1.pdf   The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   - END – CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn;   Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.