Bonamici, Deluzio Introduce Legislation to Protect Workers from AI-Based Hiring Discrimination

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced legislation to protect workers from AI-based discrimination and strengthen transparency in management and hiring decisions.

The No Robot Bosses Act would reduce the potential for discrimination from AI-based hiring tools by adding protections for job applicants and employees related to automated decision systems. The legislation also requires employers to train users on responsible system management and disclose when and how these systems are being used.

“Artificial intelligence has great potential, but we must address the potential for bias in its algorithms,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “This is especially important for hiring tools because we’ve already seen examples of how systemic biases in AI tools have limited opportunities, especially for people from underserved and marginalized backgrounds. This legislation will protect job applicants by helping to prevent AI-based hiring discrimination and increasing transparency about hiring practices.”

“Workers are the backbone of our economy, and bosses shouldn’t be able to mistreat them by deploying AI- and algorithmic-powered tools,” said Rep. Deluzio. “The No Robot Bosses Act would step in to protect the humanity and rights of workers during the hiring, disciplinary, or firing processes, fighting back against the rising threat of misuse and abuse of AI technologies.”

The No Robot Bosses Act:

• Prohibits employers from relying exclusively on an automated decision system when making employment-related decisions;
• Requires pre-deployment and periodic testing and validation of automated decision systems for issues such as discrimination and biases before such systems are used in employment-related decisions;
• Requires employers to train individuals or entities on the proper operation of automated decision systems;
• Mandates that employers provide independent, human oversight of automated decision system outputs before using the outputs to aid an employment-related decision;
• Requires timely disclosures from employers on the use of automated decision systems, the data inputs and outputs from these systems, and employee rights related to the decisions aided by these systems; and
• Establishes the Technology and Worker Protection Division at the Department of Labor to regulate the use of automated decision systems in the workplace.

The No Robot Bosses Act is the first piece of legislation Bonamici has introduced since she was named to the House’s new bipartisan AI taskforce.

A summary of the legislation can be found here. The full text can be found here. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) lead companion legislation in the Senate.