30-01-2025
Illinois task force proposes roadmap for AI policies and accountability
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Cracking down on algorithmic discrimination, regulating the use of deepfakes and protecting workers are top legislative actions recommended in a report from the state task force examining the impact of AI on society.
The 77-page report by the Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force examined how AI is impacting society by exploring risks, opportunities and implications for Illinois residents in civil rights, education, labor, consumer protections and the environment.
'The findings are sobering. We're witnessing profound changes, many of which are exacerbating existing inequities from algorithmic discrimination that disproportionately affects marginalized communities to the displacement of workers as automation takes over jobs, real people are being hurt,' said task force co-chair State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Berwyn).
State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), said tech companies have benefitted from legislation not keeping up with technology.
'We must no longer allow tech companies to profit from harm while hiding behind legal protection designed for a different era. Americans deserve a safer, more accountable digital landscape,' she said.
Tech companies often use Sec. 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 as a shield to avoid accountability, said Gong-Gershowitz, adding the law is outdated and should be repealed.
'This is a critical step in holding tech companies accountable and preventing them from profiting at the expense of our communities,' she said.
The state task force called on lawmakers to ensure AI is used fairly, ethically and in a way that benefits everyone. It emphasized the need for collaboration between government, businesses, academic institutions and the general population.
'We can't afford to wait. AI is here and its impact will only continue to grow. We have an opportunity to shape its future, but that requires us to act decisively and boldly,' said Rashid.
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