John,

The D.C. Council is considering a bill that would lead the way in protecting its residents from algorithmic discrimination.

We’ve already seen how discriminatory results generated by algorithms can affect real people. Algorithms calculate higher interest rates for applicants who attended historically Black colleges and universities, employment platforms filter out applicants with disabilities, and healthcare algorithms offer more services to white patients than Black patients who were equally or more ill.^{1, 2, 3}

The Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act would give D.C. residents tangible protections against the commercial use of biased algorithms. Until protections are put in place, companies will continue using algorithms to harm and discriminate against marginalized people at some of the most important moments in their lives.

This legislation cannot wait.

Sign the petition calling for council members to support the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act.

Take Action

The Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act would:

• Ban the discriminatory use of protected traits in automated decision-making regarding education, employment, housing, and public accommodations including credit, healthcare, and insurance.

• Require companies to audit their own algorithmic decision-making tools for discriminatory patterns.

• Require initial notice be given to users when algorithms are in use, and specific, robust explanations when algorithms result in an adverse decision about an important life opportunity.

• Create a path for those harmed by algorithmic discrimination to bring forward claims and offer remedies.

Call on your council member to advance the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act.

Together,

Caitlin at Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. Student Borrower Protection Center: https://protectborrowers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Education-Redlining-Report.pdf

2. The Washingon Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/10/22/ai-hiring-face-scanning-algorithm-increasingly-decides-whether-you-deserve-job/

3. Science Magazine: https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.aax2342