The Legislation That Targets the Racist Impacts of Tech

OP-ED

#socialmedia #perspective

In the wake of recent revelations about biased algorithms, congressional Democrats have proposed a bill that would require large companies to determine whether the algorithms they’re using result in discrimination, and work to correct them if they do.

The bill, called the Algorithmic Accountability Act and introduced last month by Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Cory Booker and Representative Yvette D. Clarke, is a good start, but it may not be robust enough to hold tech companies accountable.

Addressing the racial impacts of technology is crucial. Here are a couple of relevant initiatives:

1. Algorithmic Accountability Act: Proposed by congressional Democrats, this bill aims to hold large tech companies accountable for biased algorithms. It requires companies to assess whether their algorithms result in discrimination and correct them if needed1.

2. Anti-Racist Work in Tech: Efforts to promote racial equity in the tech sector are essential. Layoffs disproportionately affecting Black and Latinx talent, gutting DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) departments, and silencing dissent through no-politics policies are concerning trends.

Remember, an unregulated tech industry perpetuates systemic racism.