New York City Passes Bill to Address Bias in AI-Based Hiring Tools.
The New York City Council has passed a bill meant to address bias in AI-based hiring tools. If the bill is enacted, it will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. That gives vendors, employers, and employment agencies over a year to make sure their tools meet the bill’s standards. The bill would require that a bias audit be conducted on an automated employment decision tool prior to the use of the tool. The bill would also require that candidates or employees that reside in the city be notified about the use of such tools in the assessment or evaluation for hire or promotion. The Associated Press reports that this bill is specifically meant to address racial or gender bias; it doesn’t include protections against bias related to disabilities or age. It does allow job applicants to request an alternative review process, however, including the option of having another human being review their their application.