Public service to get AI guardrails for fairer system
Artificial intelligence used by public service and federal agencies for automated decision-making will face new rules under a national plan designed to make the system fairer and more transparent.
The federal government has announced a set of AI security priorities that touch on privacy, consumer protection and developing a framework for automated decision-making.
It follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s major speech last week about the government’s plan to introduce guardrails on AI policy.
Public service and Australian institutions are increasingly using AI for automated decision-making, as advocates raise concerns that emerging technology could replace human oversight.
Industry Minister Tim Ayres said Attorney-General Michelle Rowland will work across government to ensure there is transparency and a clear code of practice across all public services.
“We want to make sure that this is done in a way that there is always a person and responsibility in the decision-making chain, delivering better and fairer services to Australians,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.
“Australians can feel confident in their dealings with government, they get a better service and they get a fairer service.”
Labor will also seek to ensure that laws, regulators and institutions effectively protect consumers.
“AI safety, particularly in the workplace…consumer law and retail surveillance pricing. All of these areas are potentially impacted by AI,” Senator Ayres said.
“It is the Albanian government that has made sure that AI is safe for Australians and that its adoption is in the national interest.”
The illegal and flawed robot loan scheme exposed flaws in the use of automated processes.
Asked whether the plan required human intervention, Senator Ayres said the government wanted to ensure the technologies were applied fairly.
“This is about using AI in our own interest, in our national interest, but also ensuring that Australians have faith and trust in this technology and ensuring that they understand that the government has taken on the responsibility of delivering these services to all Australians fairly and in the national interest,” he said.
Digital Rights Watch welcomed the AI plan, with founder Lizzie O’Shea saying privacy should be prioritized.
“Australia’s privacy law has undergone years of review and the government has already agreed to a number of reforms,” he said.
“It is high time they were implemented, so we are pleased to see this as a priority focus for the government in the context of artificial intelligence.”
