FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 1, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: dan.kalmowitz@mail.house.gov

c: 347.387.5123

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement in support of the Biden Administration’s recently announced Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights:

“The ever-increasing influence algorithms hold over American lives is no secret. From home mortgage applications to uses in law enforcement and beyond, AI systems have rapidly supplanted themselves into many of the most impactful moments of our lives. And, tragically, they have too often caused needless pain. Though the calculations these systems make can’t be biased, their programmers and the data sets they’re built upon unfortunately are. Time and time again, minority populations and People of Color have faced discriminatory and unjust practices in online spaces due to nothing but the built-in biases of machines and the inability of meaningful civil rights protections to keep pace with an exponentially growing technology. As a long-time leader of Congress’s fight to deliver algorithmic justice and an author of the Algorithmic Accountability Act, I am beyond pleased to see our nation take its first firm stance on this issue through the Biden Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of RIghts,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

“People do not lose their civil liberties when they go online. But too many have. By building upon the groundwork laid by my legislation, the Blueprint represents a significant federal step towards ensuring no American ever does again. More than just protecting our communities from the mindless and negligent use of algorithms, however, the five guiding principles of the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights will serve as a vital outline for all our future efforts to protect Americans online. I thank President Biden for prioritizing an issue of such serious concern, and I look forward to furthering this conversation at his side until our digital communities are safe from any inequity and discrimination.” 

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, where she serves as Chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee.