Is Biden’s Executive Order the Policy We’ve All Been Waiting for?
It’s a critical era to make sure the next era of technology is built with ethical principles, but it’s unclear whether the proposals will lead to the rules and laws people need to be protected
From DC to Downing Street, AI policy was all the rage this past week. While the ink is still drying on policy proposals, builders in Silicon Valley and beyond are designing technology that will shape our future. We want to see ethical technology at the top of everyone’s priority, not just politicians.
What a week! Between the Biden Executive Order and the UK AI summit, it’s been a whirlwind news cycle for the ethical tech community. We’re taking this week’s post to share our initial reactions to the Executive Order.
For those following our series on how our national poll relates to our 5 core principles - don’t fret! We’ll jump back in next week. If you need something to hold yourself over you can always reread the first two posts on privacy and agency :)
With that - on to the Executive Order!
The Executive Order Covered a Lot of Ground
*Biden’s AI policy team adding another 1,000 words to the order*
It’s difficult to even know where to start, given Biden put his signature underneath over 20,000 words. It represents a massive effort to maximize public good and minimize risks from AI. Before diving into the details, it’s important to note that it’s exciting to have global policymakers focused on AI and ensuring new technology benefits society. It should always be a top priority. It is now virtually impossible to live a modern life without data-driven technology, and companies building those tools have an obligation to respect human dignity.
We firmly believe technology should help humans flourish, not the other way around. For too long, companies have been unchecked as they build tools that put profits first and abuse people by ignoring ethical boundaries.
That being said, while a massive executive order is exciting, we’re more worried about making sure it translates into meaningful privacy protections for everyday people. That requires more than wishful thinking. It takes action.
Will Biden’s Priorities Become Reality?
The high-level priorities of Biden’s order are music to our ears: privacy, safety, security, equity, and mitigating AI-generated misinformation. These all align with our core principles and are widely supported by the American public. The question is whether or not those will translate into enforceable laws and regulations that benefit consumers.
For example, Biden’s details on privacy are relatively vague on the details. The order does what it can to encourage federal agencies to focus on privacy, but the Executive Branch can only do so much on its own without legislation passed by Congress.
As some privacy experts have put it, President Biden is doing what he can to promote privacy within an executive order, but there’s only so much a President can do without Congress. Also, executive orders and the direction of federal agencies hinge on which party wins the presidential elections. American consumers deserve long-term protection of their data rights. Not rules that are at risk in an election every four years.
Companies Shouldn’t Wait to Build Ethical Tech
We’ll continue to follow Biden’s Executive Order as it is implemented across the federal government, and we’re excited to see some of the proposals come to life. In the meantime, we’ll continue to push for companies to take the initiative by building privacy by design. As our data shows, not only is privacy popular among consumers - it’s good for business.
People want ethical tech - let’s not wait for DC to act before we build it.
Tell us your thoughts! What’s your reaction to the Executive Order? Do you think it will be effective for preparing for AI’s capabilities?
What We’re Reading On Ethical (and Non-Ethical) Tech This Week:
First take on the White House Executive Order on AI - Gary Marcus
Salesforce Outlines 7 Opportunities to Deepen Trust in AI in Response to White House Executive Order - Salesforce
What the executive order means for openness in AI - AI Snake Oil
‘Wholly ineffective and pretty obviously racist’: Inside New Orleans’ struggle with facial-recognition policing - Politico
Ex/Ante, VC Firm Focused On Online Privacy And Security, Raises $33 Million - Forbes
Proposals that are being presented in recent weeks should focus attention, elevate the discourse and the build citizen demand new AI legislation. Personally, I am delighted there is action at the federal and international level. I envision the goal being AI regulations that work for more people, restoring a sense of calm and analysis of a range of options, and limiting undisclosed access to personal data.
Young people (in grades K-12) who we interviewed in a survey for Bridging Tech (www.bridgingtech.org) see 'being safe on the Internet' as a concern and this is a priority for us as affordable tech providers. With AI being released across so many platforms, it is more complicated for all of us, but especially in terms of safeguarding a child's Internet journey and data. We need AI leaders to consider their reasons for "what is being collected" and to avoid designing 'too rapidly to fully assess outcomes' for new tools and technologies.
In terms of Biden's leadership...I would like to see additional federal and international incentives to focus AI innovation on shared international concerns like water conservation, regenerating soil, climate change, education and health. Focus on the issues is a positive development overall!