On October 3, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published its “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.” This adds to prior federal guidance released by the EEOC and DOJ regarding the use of AI in employment decisions.

The framework published by the White House is intended to apply to automated systems that have an impact on individuals’ “rights, opportunities, or access to critical resources or services.”

The blueprint sets forth five protections to which individuals should be entitled:

  • Safe and effective systems
  • Protection from algorithmic discrimination
  • Data Privacy
  • Notice and explain when an automated system is being used and how it impacts the individual
  • Ability to opt out of automated systems and have access to people who can remedy issues

The framework is intended to assist in putting guardrails in place in the use of AI and automated systems. In conjunction with the publishing of the blueprint, the Biden-Harris Administration announced actions across the federal government to advance protections for workers and employers, students, patients, and more.

These initiatives include the Department of Labor’s release of “What the Blueprint for AI Bill of Rights Means for Workers” and its ramping of enforcement of required surveillance reporting to protect worker organizing. There are also consumer protections noted such as the Federal Trade Commission’s recent consideration of rulemaking on consumer privacy and data. And many others related to education and health care.

The Administration’s announcement is consistent with steps taken during the Trump Administration. It also is generally consistent with principles for AI established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD is a global organization established in 1961 to promote economic cooperation and development with nearly 40 members, including the United States. In 2019, U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration joined OECD in adopting global AI principles. Among other things, the OECD’s Principles on Artificial Intelligence provide that AI actors should:

“respect the rule of law, human rights, and democratic values, throughout the AI system lifecycle. These include freedom, dignity, and autonomy, privacy and data protection, nondiscrimination and equality, diversity, fairness, social justice, and internationally recognized labour rights.”

“provide meaningful information… (i) to foster a general understanding of AI systems, (ii) to make stakeholders aware of their interactions with AI systems, including in the workplace, (iii) to enable those affected…to understand the outcome, and (iv) to enable those adversely affected… to challenge its outcome”

While this latest blueprint for use of AI is only guidance at this time, it signals the direction the federal government intends to take with future regulation and legislation when it comes to automated systems and related technology. And, it builds on a set of principles emerging globally that seek to ensure the appropriate use of AI, principles that we are seeing embedded in laws in the U.S. such as the law regulating “automated employment decision tools” going into effect in New York City in 2023.

Businesses and employers who use AI and automated systems need to consider the Administration’s guidance along with emerging laws, regulations, and principles to guide their adoption and application of AI. This includes developing policies and procedures that establish protections to avoid potential discrimination or breaches of privacy.

If you have questions about developing policies and procedures around the use of AI and automated systems contact the Jackson Lewis attorney with whom you regularly work or a member of our Privacy, Data, and Cybersecurity practice group.

Tags: civil rights, consumer, DOL, FTC, Labor, privacy, workers
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Photo of Joseph J. Lazzarotti Joseph J. Lazzarotti

Joseph J. Lazzarotti is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He founded and currently co-leads the firm’s Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity practice group, edits the firm’s Privacy Blog, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)…

Joseph J. Lazzarotti is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He founded and currently co-leads the firm’s Privacy, Data and Cybersecurity practice group, edits the firm’s Privacy Blog, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Trained as an employee benefits lawyer, focused on compliance, Joe also is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits practice group.

In short, his practice focuses on the matrix of laws governing the privacy, security, and management of data, as well as the impact and regulation of social media. He also counsels companies on compliance, fiduciary, taxation, and administrative matters with respect to employee benefit plans.

Privacy and cybersecurity experience – Joe counsels multinational, national and regional companies in all industries on the broad array of laws, regulations, best practices, and preventive safeguards. The following are examples of areas of focus in his practice:

  • Advising health care providers, business associates, and group health plan sponsors concerning HIPAA/HITECH compliance, including risk assessments, policies and procedures, incident response plan development, vendor assessment and management programs, and training.
  • Coached hundreds of companies through the investigation, remediation, notification, and overall response to data breaches of all kinds – PHI, PII, payment card, etc.
  • Helping organizations address questions about the application, implementation, and overall compliance with European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, in particular, its implications in the U.S., together with preparing for the California Consumer Privacy Act.
  • Working with organizations to develop and implement video, audio, and data-driven monitoring and surveillance programs. For instance, in the transportation and related industries, Joe has worked with numerous clients on fleet management programs involving the use of telematics, dash-cams, event data recorders (EDR), and related technologies. He also has advised many clients in the use of biometrics including with regard to consent, data security, and retention issues under BIPA and other laws.
  • Assisting clients with growing state data security mandates to safeguard personal information, including steering clients through detailed risk assessments and converting those assessments into practical “best practice” risk management solutions, including written information security programs (WISPs). Related work includes compliance advice concerning FTC Act, Regulation S-P, GLBA, and New York Reg. 500.
  • Advising clients about best practices for electronic communications, including in social media, as well as when communicating under a “bring your own device” (BYOD) or “company owned personally enabled device” (COPE) environment.
  • Conducting various levels of privacy and data security training for executives and employees
  • Supports organizations through mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations with regard to the handling of employee and customer data, and the safeguarding of that data during the transaction.
  • Representing organizations in matters involving inquiries into privacy and data security compliance before federal and state agencies including the HHS Office of Civil Rights, Federal Trade Commission, and various state Attorneys General.

Benefits counseling experience – Joe’s work in the benefits counseling area covers many areas of employee benefits law. Below are some examples of that work:

  • As part of the Firm’s Health Care Reform Team, he advises employers and plan sponsors regarding the establishment, administration and operation of fully insured and self-funded health and welfare plans to comply with ERISA, IRC, ACA/PPACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, GINA, and other related laws.
  • Guiding clients through the selection of plan service providers, along with negotiating service agreements with vendors to address plan compliance and operations, while leveraging data security experience to ensure plan data is safeguarded.
  • Counsels plan sponsors on day-to-day compliance and administrative issues affecting plans.
  • Assists in the design and drafting of benefit plan documents, including severance and fringe benefit plans.
  • Advises plan sponsors concerning employee benefit plan operation, administration and correcting errors in operation.

Joe speaks and writes regularly on current employee benefits and data privacy and cybersecurity topics and his work has been published in leading business and legal journals and media outlets, such as The Washington Post, Inside Counsel, Bloomberg, The National Law Journal, Financial Times, Business Insurance, HR Magazine and NPR, as well as the ABA Journal, The American Lawyer, Law360, Bender’s Labor and Employment Bulletin, the Australian Privacy Law Bulletin and the Privacy, and Data Security Law Journal.

Joe served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith on the Missouri Court of Appeals.

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