Sen Edward Markey (D-MA) Introduces Legislation to Mandate Civil Rights Offices in Federal Agencies That Handle Artificial Intelligence

Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems (BIAS) Act to ensure that every federal agency that uses, funds, or oversees artificial intelligence (AI) has an office of civil rights focused on combatting AI bias and discrimination, among other harms. The legislation would also require every civil rights office to report their efforts to Congress and provide recommendations for congressional action. Many federal agencies lack civil rights offices whose principal mission is to protect vulnerable communities across the United States. Currently, there are only 30 civil rights offices within the federal government, yet many are not required to secure staff with the expertise needed to advise the agency on algorithmic bias and discrimination.