In a significant move aimed at ameliorating the intersection of technology and racial justice, Color Of Change (COC), the largest online racial justice organisation in the United States, has unveiled its updated Black Tech Agenda. This initiative seeks to ensure that technological advancements, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), are beneficial to Black communities rather than detrimental. This updated agenda follows COC's original version from 2022 and addresses evolving challenges faced by these communities.
The rollout of the Black Tech Agenda took place as calls grow louder for more robust regulation governing the use of AI technologies. COC identifies the pressing need for clear guidelines designed to protect Black workers from biased AI systems, ensure fair compensation for Black artists, and prevent the construction of environmentally harmful infrastructure in Black neighbourhoods.
Portia Allen-Kyle, the Interim Executive Director of Color Of Change, emphasised the critical nature of the situation, stating, “Technology now shapes every part of our lives, from getting jobs and healthcare to accessing education and banking. But instead of lifting up Black communities, these systems too often discriminate against us.” She articulates that the agenda’s dual purpose is to safeguard civil rights in the present and to build real economic power for Black communities in the future.
The Black Tech Agenda delineates six pillars crucial to achieving Black tech equity. These pillars encompass several key issues facing Black communities:
Digital Access: Recognising the disconnection between reliable internet access and the ecological impact of Big Tech, COC advocates for affordable and environmentally conscious internet services.
Personal Data Control: With increasing concerns over the misuse of personal data, COC calls for stringent privacy legislation that empowers individuals to control how their data is gathered and utilised, particularly in AI systems.
Community Control: A strong emphasis is placed on including Black residents in discussions that influence their living environments, ensuring that tech companies seek public input prior to launching new initiatives.
Economic Success Through Technology: To combat discrimination in employment, loans, and housing, the agenda insists on regular evaluations of AI systems to eliminate bias.
Worker Protection in Tech: The agenda highlights the inequalities faced by Black workers within Big Tech, urging the introduction of rules that offer better job security and pathways for advancement.
Creative Control: Highlighting concerns over AI's appropriation of Black culture and artistic expression, COC calls for laws that safeguard Black artists' intellectual property rights.
The implications of AI are particularly pertinent as the nation heads into an election season characterised by disinformation and deepfakes. Michael Huggins, the Deputy Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Color Of Change, observed, "AI is here to stay, and it will shape Black futures whether we like it or not." He underscored the reality that AI systems today often replicate historic biases that have marginalized Black individuals, calling for intentional regulation to ensure equitable opportunities.
The demand for a robust regulatory framework is thus paramount, as it has become increasingly clear that comprehensive oversight is necessary for the ethical deployment of AI technologies. Key elements of this framework would include mandatory transparency in AI tools, a commitment to including underrepresented voices in the regulatory process, and heightened accountability in high-stakes sectors such as housing, hiring, policing, and electoral processes.
Color Of Change has a longstanding commitment to holding tech giants accountable. Their efforts have ranged from advocating for strengthened election integrity policies implemented by AI companies to boycotting Facebook over issues related to anti-Black rhetoric on the platform. The updated Black Tech Agenda serves as a thorough policy guide on how technology can be harnessed to uplift rather than undermine Black communities.
Source: Noah Wire Services