New Jersey Launches Civil Rights and Tech Initiative
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) has launched an initiative aimed at addressing the risk of bias and discrimination from the use of AI and other emerging technologies, Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) announced Thursday.
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The Civil Rights and Technology Initiative will provide guidance about how the state’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) applies to the use of advanced technology and its risk of algorithmic discrimination, the Platkin said. A Civil Rights Innovation Lab was also launched through this initiative, where experts, technologists and stakeholders will identify and develop technology to enhance the work of the DCR and develop protocols for the responsible use and deployment of emerging technology, according to the news release.
“Technological innovation is changing the world as we know it,” said Platkin. “But it is also critically important that the needs of our state’s diverse communities are considered as these new technologies are deployed. That is why we will continue to make sure that people and companies do not use innovative new technologies to discriminate against and exclude our state’s residents.”
Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey state chief AI strategist, said, Government “has a duty to ensure that both the public and private sector use these tools effectively and securely.”