New Algorithmic Accountability Act Demands Bias Testing for Big Tech
Democratic lawmakers introduce the Algorithmic Accountability Act, a bill that requires large tech companies to evaluate their automated systems for bias and discrimination. The legislation routes regulatory enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission.
Democratic lawmakers introduce the Algorithmic Accountability Act, a bill that targets large tech companies to address hidden biases in their automated systems. Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker, along with Representative Yvette Clarke, propose this legislation at a time when platforms like Facebook face severe scrutiny and federal charges over discriminatory housing and job ad targeting practices.
The legislation routes its regulatory specifics through the Federal Trade Commission and applies to companies that earn more than $50 million annually or hold data on over one million users. Under this bill, the FTC gains the authority to mandate "impact assessments" that evaluate automated decision-making systems for accuracy, fairness, bias, discrimination, privacy, and security issues.
Companies that uncover problems during these required assessments must actively correct the issues to comply with the law. This Democratic-led effort highlights a growing political focus on the real-world, off-platform consequences of algorithmic bias, such as hidden job opportunities and unavailable housing, rather than the conservative concerns about political censorship that dominate other recent tech hearings.