John,

The DC City Council is considering a bill that would ban the use of discriminatory AI in key areas like housing, healthcare, and employment, and they need to hear from DC residents right now about the importance of supporting this legislation.¹ Send an email to key decision-makers on the DC Council urging them to support the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act.

Algorithms and automated decision-making tools are spreading to nearly every aspect of our lives. Businesses are using Facebook to discriminate against job seekers that don’t fit their target demographic, and banks are denying people mortgages if they live in or seek to buy in a predominantly Black zipcode. Algorithmic bias is locking people out of services and opportunities that are vital to their survival and wellbeing, often without their knowledge.  

The Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act would address those harms by requiring industries to be transparent about the role of AI in their decision-making and by banning algorithms that discriminate based on protected traits such as race, gender, sexuality, age, ability, etc. Tell DC Council members to support the SDAA.

Of course, Big Tech is not happy about the SDAA. Now that the bill is moving, a coalition backed by Google, Meta, AT&T, and other Big Tech groups is mobilizing resources to oppose it. ^2,3 They know that if passed, the SDAA will have implications for the surveillance capitalism business model that fuels their profits.  

We have a shot at getting the SDAA passed in spite of Big Tech’s efforts – but you need to act now, before voting begins later this month. Send a message urging DC council members to support the fight against discriminatory AI.

In solidarity,

Leila

1. Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia: https://oag.dc.gov/release/ag-racine-introduces-legislation-stop

2. Axios: https://www.axios.com/2022/03/14/techs-state-privacy-law-lobbying

3. DC Council: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/48421/Hearing_Record/B24-0558-Hearing_Record1.pdf