National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) President and CEO Lisa Rice Issues Statement

on the Trump Administration’s AI Plan and Executive Orders

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) is committed to ensuring that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) uplift all communities, ensuring access to economic mobility and prosperity. Just as the internet once redefined the human experience, AI is changing the trajectory of human capabilities, business operations, national governance, and access to opportunities. AI truly is the civil and human rights frontier of our time.

We commend elements of the administration’s AI Action Plan that prioritize strengthened consumer protections, community development, investments in local workforce training, American competitiveness, and expanded energy sources for AI infrastructure to mitigate straining local infrastructure. These priorities offer meaningful potential to foster innovations that advance responsible governance and public trust.

However, we also have concerns and urge caution.

NFHA opposes the President’s Executive Order entitled, “Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government.” According to the administration, the purpose of this executive order is to prevent principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion from being incorporated in the training of Large Language Models (LLMs). Diversity, equity, and inclusion tenets help debias models and ensure they do not project false, warped, discriminatory, or inaccurate outcomes—something the Administration states is its goal. In fact, we know that training data often reflects the discrimination that exists in our society. Thus, it is imperative that LLMs be tested for bias and trained to not perpetuate discrimination. Our anti-discrimination laws require this standard.

America’s diversity is its strength and the reason the U.S. remains a world leader in shaping AI. Fairness, justice, and diversity are embedded in our Constitution and laws. “Out of Many, One” is our national motto. It is disingenuous to suggest that diversity, equity, and inclusion are harmful to or impede technological innovation.

Moreover, in lockstep with 99 U.S. Senators, NFHA will continue to implore the Administration not to supersede states’ rights in implementing AI statues that may be necessary for achieving the very objectives of the National AI Plan. We believe that state and local authorities have a critical role to play, especially since many tailored AI policies have already emerged from the states. Federal actions must not weaken these efforts. State-level systems serve as essential laboratories for advancing solutions that ensure all people in America flourish from technological advancements.

Finally, NFHA urges caution in the buildout of AI data centers, which often require vast amounts of power as well as water for cooling. We urge the administration to ensure that AI data centers do not contribute to air, land, or water pollution or deprive already underserved communities of access to energy and other essentials people need to thrive.

As NFHA looks forward to a constructive engagement with the Administration, we remain committed to supporting a national AI ecosystem that is fair, competitive, secure, trustworthy, accountable, and transparent.

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for 200 fair housing and justice-centered organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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National Fair Housing Alliance Outlines Key Considerations

for OSTP Director Michael Kratsios

Washington, D.C. – Following President Trump’s letter to newly appointed OSTP Director Michael Kratsios, the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) emphasizes urgent considerations to guide America’s scientific and technological strategies. The organization emphasizes integrating civil rights perspectives into science and technology policy to ensure advancements benefit all individuals.

“President Trump’s call for a Golden Age of American Innovation highlights an important opportunity,” said Dr. Michael Akinwumi, NFHA’s Chief AI Officer. “But achieving genuine innovation requires addressing longstanding inequities and embedding civil rights principles within America’s innovation ecosystem.”

The letter outlines three challenges: securing U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies, revitalizing science and technology enterprise, and ensuring innovation drives economic growth and improves the lives of all. These challenges present both opportunities and risks, Akinwumi said.

NFHA urges Director Kratsios to prioritize:

• Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Deployment of Technologies: Ensure critical and emerging technologies protect against discrimination, have a high degree of accuracy and are reliable while upholding civil liberties, building on guidelines such as those in the ethics framework for the intelligence community and NFHA’s comments on the AI Action Plan RFI.

• Diversity and Inclusion in STEM and Emerging Technologies: Promote policies increasing diversity in the scientific workforce, which are supported by NSF programs as a “dynamic and highly qualified workforce is vital to maintaining the nation’s standard of excellence and global leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” according to the National Science Foundation and which are in alignment with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and anti-discrimination statutes. Additionally, we urge that the agency’s approach to critical and emerging technologies centers diversity and inclusion as fundamental, actionable principles guiding America’s leadership in technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and blockchain technology.

• Fair Access to Technology: Bridge the digital divide by supporting fair and affordable internet access and digital literacy to materialize and sustain the gains of federal efforts like the Department of Education’s STEM initiatives. OSTP policies should also promote equal access to high-quality internet and technologies.

• Collaboration with Civil Society: Engage with civil and human rights organizations to ensure marginalized communities’ perspectives inform science and technology policy strategies of the OSTP.

“Science and technology can transform and improve society, but must respect and promote civil and human rights,” Dr. Akinwumi added. “We look forward to collaborating with Director Kratsios and OSTP to build an innovative ecosystem truly reflective of our nation’s values.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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September 19, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. _ The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) strongly supports the recent call by two U.S. senators to establish dedicated civil rights offices within federal agencies utilizing AI technologies, noting that as AI systems increasingly influence areas such as housing and public services, it is vital that these technologies are monitored to ensure fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability and preserve consumer privacy.

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Edward J. Markey wrote to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) earlier this week in a letter addressed to Director Shalonda Young stating, “We urge the White House . . . to require all federal agencies that use AI for consequential decisions to establish a civil rights office, if they do not already have one; ensure all civil rights offices are staffed with experts in algorithmic discrimination; and encourage federal agencies to establish additional safeguards to prevent algorithmic discrimination. By ensuring that agencies have the resources, personnel, and policies to detect and mitigate bias, we can ensure that the AI age does not come at the expense of already marginalized and vulnerable communities.”

NFHA wholeheartedly agrees that robust civil rights oversight will help prevent discrimination and promote government accountability in AI development and use, especially in housing and lending.

“We applaud Leader Schumer and Senator Markey for their foresight in recognizing the potential risks associated with AI and the necessity for civil rights protections, oversight, and enforcement,” said Lisa Rice, NFHA’s President and CEO. “AI is the new civil rights frontier. We cannot afford to ignore the tremendous impact it is having on people’s ability to access credit, rent housing, obtain insurance, and other necessities of life. Establishing dedicated civil rights offices, with highly skilled staff, will safeguard marginalized communities and foster trust in the technologies that are integral to our daily lives.”

“Housing decisions directly impact people’s lives, and with AI now playing a critical role in housing processes, it is essential that these systems are rooted in principles that ensure safe, secure, and responsible innovation. We urge the OMB to review NFHA’s recent report on skill assessment for agencies’ Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) in consideration for necessary workforce training to ensure effective oversight of AI systems. Additionally, NFHA’s algorithmic auditing framework offers a clear guide for implementing the Senators’ call for AI audits, ensuring AI systems are accurate, transparent and aligned with civil and human rights protections,” said Dr. Michael Akinwumi, NFHA’s Chief AI Officer.

“NFHA is committed to advocating for policies that ensure technology serves all individuals equitably. AI technologies are already harming communities. By equipping civil rights offices with adequate staffing and resources, we can better address the challenges posed by AI and protect the rights of every individual,” said Nikitra Bailey, NFHA’s Executive Vice President.

The Senators also request that OMB “prioritize the mitigation, prevention, and elimination of algorithmic bias and discrimination.” NFHA has been a leader in challenging and eradicating bias in a variety of technologies and urges the OMB to quickly implement the measures championed by Senators Schumer and Markey.

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National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) Publishes Research Study on the Chief AI Officers at the Federal Level

Washington, D.C. — Today, the  National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) published a groundbreaking research study focused on the recent directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the implementation of Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) within federal agencies. This initiative comes at a crucial time as federal expenditures on artificial intelligence (AI) have surged dramatically.

Last year, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14110 on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI. Complementing this EO, the OMB released a memorandum outlining efforts to facilitate the responsible adoption of AI across federal agencies, including a directive to appoint Chief AI Officers responsible for implementing these new requirements with the goal of advancing AI innovation, AI risk management, and AI governance.

Michael Akinwumi, NFHA’s chief responsible AI officer, says the study is “aimed at gaining insights into the ongoing appointment of CAIOs and assess how their profiles align with the critical responsibilities of this pivotal role.”

“The research highlights the essential functions of CAIOs in government, emphasizes the importance of selecting candidates based on reasonable criteria, and underscores the value of transparency from public agencies regarding their AI governance initiatives,” according to Dr. Akinwumi.

Key findings of the study include:

1. A reasonable benchmark job description – NFHA developed a comprehensive job description tailored for the CAIO position within the government, serving as a benchmark to assess the status of current appointees.

2. Profile assessment – The investigation of shortlisted CAIOs demonstrated key takeaways from their public profiles relative to the responsibilities of the CAIO role. Two of the takeaways are:

• CAIOs are notably selected from senior agency leadership with data-intensive, operational, or policy backgrounds, but there is inconsistency in their areas of expertise and AI-related accomplishments.
• Many CAIOs have strong agency knowledge, but there is uncertainty about their applied knowledge of AI and the ability to meet the EO & OMB requirements.

3. Policy recommendations – In response to identified gaps and additional considerations for the success of CAIOs, NFHA presents policy recommendations focused on:

• Transparency of CAIO roles
• Role Alignment Criteria
• Development & Engagement Initiatives
• Measures of Success

NFHA hopes that these findings provide valuable insights for federal agencies to enhance transparency in their implementation of EO and OMB requirements. Lusine Petrosyan, NFHA’s AI policy researcher, says “agencies are encouraged to utilize the study’s key takeaways to assess potential CAIO appointees or enhance the suitability and readiness of existing CAIOs to lead the innovation, risk management, and governance of AI in government.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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Congress Must Take Broader, Swift Action to Protect People and Communities Against AI Harms

Washington, D.C. — Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA), issued the following statement in response to the Senate AI Working Group’s report, A Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Policy in the United States, released yesterday by a bipartisan group of senators:

“We applaud Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senator Todd Young (R-IN) for taking an important first step to address the rapidly evolving AI landscape. We need this type of bipartisan collaboration to put in place proper guardrails for technologies that impact every aspect of our lives including determining whether we can secure housing, access credit, be gainfully employed, or get medical treatment.

“As I shared in my testimony last year during the Senate AI Insight Forum on High Impact AI, automated systems hold significant risks, including bias and discrimination risks, which can severely harm people. The risks are not insurmountable if the proper controls are put in place. We are pleased the roadmap acknowledges AI bias is real and notes that existing civil rights and consumer protection laws can apply to automated decision-making systems and processes.  

“However, the roadmap kicks the can down the road leaving the public waiting for specific legislation to take on a host of AI-related challenges. The plan focuses heavily on enhancing national competitiveness and spurring market innovation, yet there is a conspicuous absence in prioritizing the adoption of responsible AI principles, particularly those aimed at fostering fairness and trustworthiness in AI systems. Furthermore, the report lacks specific recommendations to guide Congress in crafting legislation to tackle a plethora of civil and human rights issues arising from the growing use of AI. Glaring omissions include detailed provisions for eliminating bias in AI systems used in credit, employment, health, education, policing, and criminal justice.  

“While increasing funding for AI innovation is important, it is equally imperative that Congress adequately fund efforts to promote fairness, explainability, transparency, accuracy, and trustworthiness in AI systems. Congress must also provide sufficient funding to ensure compliance with civil rights and consumer protection laws. This is crucial since studies show unethical and biased tech harms people and communities and stifles the nation’s economic progress.

“NFHA has long been at the forefront of working to create a fairer AI landscape. Through our Responsible AI Lab, we work to advance policy, technical, and other solutions to debias existing technologies; increase transparency and explainability for AI tools; outline ethical standards for responsible technologies; develop effective regulation; ensure AI systems have humans in the loop; and increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the tech field.

“We urge Congress to move quickly and look forward to working with Congressional leaders to draft legislation which incorporates recommendations developed by NFHA and other civil rights groups to mitigate existing and emerging AI challenges. Doing so will ensure we do not further entrench bias within our systems and negatively impact individuals and communities while stifling the nation’s economic progress.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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Washington, D.C. — Algorithmic fairness techniques can eliminate bias in mortgage underwriting without compromising accuracy, according to a new report by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and Los Angeles-based fairness-as-a-service fintech company FairPlay AI.

“Disparity in mortgage approval rate persists despite decades of legislation and policy actions aimed at eliminating it. As artificial intelligence becomes more ubiquitous in housing and lending, experts have begun looking for ways to leverage fairness techniques to root out rather than entrench biases in AI-based underwriting systems as a necessity to ensure that AI does not become a technology that perpetuates or exacerbates the legacy of discrimination in housing and lending,” said Michael Akinwumi, NFHA’s Chief Responsible AI Officer. “While accuracy-fairness tradeoff is often wrongly used as a defense against search for less discriminatory models in mortgage underwriting as expected by regulators, our study indicates that it is possible to reduce disparity in mortgage approval rate without undercutting accuracy and profitability. A real-world application of our findings could help eliminate lending bias, expand fair housing opportunities for all, especially for Black and Hispanic applicants, and reduce the racial homeownership gap which is currently wider than it was before the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1968.”

Through a method known as Distribution Matching (DM), AI-based underwriting models can be constrained so that outcome distribution for any one protected group, like Black or Hispanic applicants, closely resembles the outcome distribution for the corresponding control group, such as White applicants, and improve the fairness of the underwriting model for protected groups without diminishing accuracy for all groups.

“The lending industry has had a long tradition of thinking that greater fairness and greater profits are mutually exclusive—which is not the case,” said Kareem Saleh, Founder & CEO of FairPlay AI. “Today’s research gives compelling evidence that, by training algorithms to regard disparities in lending outcomes as another form of error, mortgage approval rates for Black and Hispanic homebuyers can be increased by 5-13% with no corresponding increase in risk.”

NFHA conducted this study using about six million records representing about four million distinct loans, a dataset courtesy of CoreLogic®. The dataset contains records of loans originated from December 1987 through January 2021.

As a follow on to this release, NFHA and FairPlay AI will host a webinar tomorrow, April 25, 2024 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET to explore the study’s preliminary findings and present recommendations for future research to expand upon these positive findings.

Click here to read the study. Click here to register for the webinar.

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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National Fair Housing Alliance Issues Statement Following OMB AI Memo Updates

Washington, D.C. — Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies on advancing governance, innovation, and risk management for agency use of Artificial Intelligence. The memo seeks to reinforce the Biden Administration’s position that all federal agencies have a duty to ensure technology is designed, developed, deployed, and used in a way that advances innovation, mitigates discrimination, and protects the American people.

Specifically, OMB’s updated draft memorandum:

1. Requires federal agencies to improve public transparency in their use of AI;
2. Mitigates the risks of algorithmic discrimination;
3. Strengthens AI governance protocols by designating Chief AI Officers who will, among other actions, coordinate the use of AI across federal agencies;
4. Improves risk management practices by requiring federal agencies to document how AI is better suited to accomplish certain goals as compared to other alternatives;
5. Adds recommendations for managing risks in federal AI procurement to address concerns over technologies like facial recognition systems;
6. Adds a new requirement that federal agencies consult with diverse voices and that their AI governance boards engage with civic society;
7. Clarifies where and how federal agencies should engage with federal workers and their labor unions; and
8. Supports efforts to grow the AI workforce.

“The National Fair Housing Alliance acknowledges and appreciates OMB’s efforts that incorporate  some of the recommendations we put forth in our comments to the White House on this important guidance. We are particularly pleased with components of OMB’s policy that emphasize the importance of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the deployment and management of AI technologies across federal agencies,” said Michael Akinwumi, Chief Responsible AI Officer at the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA). “It is encouraging to see the alignment with several of NFHA’s recommendations, particularly those advocating for an AI governance framework that conscientiously incorporates civil rights principles and ensures no community is left behind. These steps align with NFHA’s long-standing advocacy for equitable and transparent AI systems that uphold the rights and safety of all Americans, especially in critical areas such as housing and lending.”

“OMB’s mandate for concrete safeguards by December 1, 2024, for AI applications impacting Americans’ rights or safety is a significant move to adopt important accountability measures including rigorous assessment, testing, and monitoring of AI’s impacts, and a commitment to mitigating the risks of algorithmic discrimination. The provision for public transparency through the release of annual inventories of AI use cases and the requirement for human oversight in critical decision-making processes are steps in the right direction,” said Snigdha Sharma, NFHA’s AI Policy Researcher.   

The memo also parallels NFHA’s call for making AI systems and their governance structures understandable to all people, as well as ensuring federal agencies have comprehensive engagement with diverse voices as AI tools are developed and deployed. NFHA encourages OMB to continue its vital work to establish necessary protocols for AI. One notable area that must be addressed is the handling of adverse AI impacts and providing remedies for affected individuals. For example, NFHA has advocated for a robust, three-tiered accountability approach.

“NFHA’s crucial points for regular policy reviews to adapt to the rapidly evolving AI landscape require more pronounced emphasis to ensure the continuous relevance and efficacy of AI governance policies,” added Michael Akinwumi. “OMB’s recommendations mark a step forward toward responsible AI governance. We recognize there remains a significant journey ahead to achieve a more comprehensive AI policy framework and we look forward to our continued work with the White House and other stakeholders to refine and implement AI governance standards and policies that uphold fairness and justice for every community.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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March 8, 2024
Press Contact: Janelle Brevard | jbrevard@nationalfairhousing.org

Washington, D.C. — Today, Michael Akinwumi, Chief Responsible AI Officer for the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), will testify before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights regarding civil rights implications of the federal use of facial recognition technology (FRT).

Facial recognition technology, when used responsibly and ethically, may offer enhanced security and efficiency in housing. However, it poses serious civil rights risks and challenges such as potential racial bias in misidentification, invasion of privacy, and unwarranted surveillance, which can lead to discrimination in housing and unjust law enforcement practices. In his testimony, Akinwumi urges the Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the application of FRT in public housing, its associated risks, and its impact on communities of color.

FRT’s paramount advancement in face recognition, detection, and analysis is largely due to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. For example, many of the recent advances in FRT are due to deep learning algorithms, a subset of machine learning that uses layered (or “deep”) neural networks to analyze various forms of data, thereby enabling computers to learn from experience and understand the world in terms of a hierarchy of concepts. Though there are significant risks of bias and discrimination in AI systems, including face recognition systems behind FRT, the risks are not insurmountable. Akinwumi, on behalf of NFHA, urges the Commission to ask Congress to enact comprehensive legislation to advance Responsible AI through a robust framework emphasizing fairness, privacy, equality, and equity to AI technologies benefit society without causing harm.

NFHA urges the Commission to advocate for legislative action to address and mitigate the risks of FRT bias, promoting the establishment of fairer and more equitable technological frameworks by:

1. Ensuring Strong Civil and Human Rights Protections;
2. Ensuring Compliance with Existing Civil Rights and Consumer Protection Laws;
3. Integrating the Review of Equity in the Algorithm’s Lifecycle and Requiring Auditing Requirements for AI, including FRT, in Housing and Lending;
4. Promoting Effective Training for the Federal Workforce;
5. Ensuring Equitable Digital Access, Public Data Access, Transparency and Explainability;
6. Ensuring Technologies Developed Outside of the U.S. Adhere to U.S. Rules and Regulations;
7. Improving Consumers’ Ability to Have Agency Over Their Data; and
8. Investigating the Impact of FRT-equipped Surveillance Technologies in Public Housing.

Technological innovations can significantly benefit people, society, and the economy. However, deploying facial recognition systems without proper rights-preserving protocols, testing, and oversight can disenfranchise underserved groups by unfairly and inappropriately denying access to housing, credit, and other high-stakes opportunities or services. In light of the economic and social repercussions of racial inequalities exacerbated by FRT, Akinwumi advocates for the Commission to recommend comprehensive guidelines to ensure technological advancements benefit all citizens, safeguarding civil rights and fostering economic growth.

Akinwumi’s full testimony can be found here.

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post NFHA’s Chief Responsible AI Officer To Testify Before U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Regarding Use of Facial Recognition Technology appeared first on NFHA.

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), the nation’s foremost civil rights organization dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination and ensuring all communities are well-resourced, announced today its membership in the Biden-Harris Administration’s first-ever consortium focused on AI safety.

Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA, stated, “Joining this pioneering consortium aligns perfectly with our mission to eliminate the racial homeownership and wealth gaps and create fairer systems that well serve everyone. We are committed to ensuring that AI advancements serve as tools for equity and justice in America’s housing landscape.” She further highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration. “By bringing our policy and research expertise to the consortium, we will drive the conversation on how AI can be regulated and used for good.”

The consortium’s goals resonate with NFHA’s core objectives of fostering equitable access to housing and related opportunities. NFHA will help develop risk management strategies that are based on its gold standard algorithmic auditing framework, ensuring responsible development and deployment of AI with contributions to setting standards that aim to prevent the misuse and harmful impacts of AI. In addition to working to benchmark AI capabilities and promoting technologies that support fair housing practices, NFHA will assist in establishing guidelines for AI red-teaming, a crucial step in safeguarding against biased AI systems.

NFHA’s Chief Responsible AI Officer, Dr. Michael Akinwumi, remarked, “We are at a historic juncture where our expertise can guide the development of AI systems that are safe, secure and trustworthy by design. NFHA’s involvement in the consortium is a testament to our dedication to harnessing technology to promote rights-centric solutions in housing and lending. Members of our Responsible AI Lab look forward to contributing to efforts that seek to advance AI benefits and mitigate its risks.”

The consortium, recently announced by the Biden-Harris Administration, brings together government, industry, and civil rights organizations to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed safely and ethically. NFHA’s participation reinforces its ongoing commitment to advocating for responsible AI that upholds and advances civil and human rights.

For more information, please visit the webpage for NFHA’s Responsible AI Lab, or the consortium’s website.

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities. 

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Media Contact: Janelle Brevard | jbrevard@nationalfairhousing.org

Washington, D.C. — Today, Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, will testify before the U.S. Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development to highlight both risks and opportunities presented by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into housing and financial services systems.

In her testimony, Rice will highlight the ways responsible AI can help to circumvent and overcome existing bias in AI and automated systems used in housing and financial services. Rice will call on Congress to play a leadership role in tech equity and the advancement of responsible AI principles to ensure technologies are fair and beneficial, do not harm people and communities, and promote ideals of freedom, including robust privacy protections and ensuring consumers have more agency over their personal data. 

The National Fair Housing Alliance believes Congress should pass new legislation that ensures fairer structures by: 

Ensuring Strong Civil and Human Rights Protections

These laws also must create equity to mitigate existing systemic barriers that unjustly harm underserved groups and communities. Civil rights, human rights, and consumer protection organizations lack the resources to ensure technologies are beneficial and not harmful, which means Congress must increase federal funding to support the important work of NGOs working to advance Responsible AI as well as create new programs to support the effective oversight and accountability of automated systems.

Ensuring Compliance with Existing Civil Rights and Consumer Protection Laws

Congress should ensure federal agencies issue robust policies that remind institutions of their legal obligations to test AI models for potential disparate treatment or disparate impact discrimination.

Integrating the Review of Fairness in the Algorithm’s Lifecycle and Requiring Auditing

The risk of bias must be considered and mitigated at every phase, from data selection to development to deployment to monitoring in a post-deployment environment. Legislation must encourage Responsible AI innovation while implementing risk mitigation measures.

Promoting Effective Training for the Federal Workforce

Congress should support comprehensive training on technology and AI fairness for federal regulators and enforcement agencies and ensure the federal workforce has the equipment and resources needed to enforce U.S. laws and regulations. Training should include a focus on fair housing and fair lending provisions and other civil rights and consumer protection standards.

Ensuring Equitable Digital Access, Public Data Access, Transparency and Explainability

AI legislation should mandate public availability of key data, as the lack of such data hampers efforts to develop responsible automated systems in housing and financial services. Congress should also encourage and support public research that analyzes the efficacy of specific uses of AI in housing and financial services and the impact of AI in financial services for underserved groups, including protected classes and those living in rural communities.

Ensuring Technologies Developed Outside of the U.S. Adhere to U.S. Rules and Regulations

Any legislation passed by Congress must ensure that foreign innovations adhere to U.S. civil rights and consumer protection standards to prevent violations through irresponsible AI.

Improve Consumers’ Ability to Have Agency Over Their Data

Congress should review the consumer privacy protections created by the European Union and California and build upon them to protect consumers’ privacy. Legislation must clarify that consumers own their personal data. Legislation must also ensure that data collected for one purpose cannot be used for other purposes without consumers’ consent. It must also ensure there are appropriate provisions to assess privacy risks, promote proper risk mitigation efforts, and advance rigorous anti-discrimination testing.

More details on the National Fair Housing Alliance’s Responsible AI policy agenda can be found HERE.

About the National Fair Housing Alliance
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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