California
California 'AI Accountability Act' would watch state government, urge private regulations | StateScoop
A California senator this week introduced a bill that seeks to build upon Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent efforts to regulate the use of artificial intelligence and codify those initiatives into law.
Building on AI directives issued by Newsom in September and President Joe Biden in October, the California AI Accountability Act, SB 896 introduced Thursday by Sen. Bill Dodd, would require California state agencies to notify users when they are interacting with AI, among other provisions.
“The executive order was a good framework,” Paul Payne, Dodd’s press secretary, wrote in an email to StateScoop. “Our legislation adds specificity and makes it all state law. It applies to state government agencies and prepares state government with tools to respond to AI.”
The bill’s language acknowledges the potentially beneficial uses of generative AI and risks in areas such as “democratic and legal processes, biases and equity, public health and safety and the economy.” It also proposes periodic evaluations to revise AI guidelines when necessary and would direct the California Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology and the Office of Data and Innovation to produce reports on the risks and benefits of AI in the state.
Additionally, the bill encourages collaborations between the state’s universities and the private sector to train students to meet AI workforce development needs, particularly related to ethical, privacy and security concerns.
“By now we all recognize the tremendous capability of artificial intelligence to improve our lives and the functioning of government,” Dodd said in a press release. “But we also see its potential downsides – specifically, the threat to consumer privacy, transparency and fairness. My proposal will help identify the risks of these emerging systems and develop appropriate guidelines to protect our state and the public.”
In addition to governing state government itself, the bill also says California “should encourage the private sector to adopt these practices and safeguards.” Payne noted in an email that while the legislation recommends the private sector adopt best practices, nothing is mandated.
Last year, the California legislature unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Dodd that established the state’s commitment to examining and implementing “specified principles” related to the use of AI.
Nearly a month after the resolution was adopted, Newsom signed his executive order directing state agencies to study AI in order to develop guidelines for the technology’s use in state government. A state AI task force in November issued its first report, which identified six ways the state could potentially use generative AI — and raised a slate of concerns, ranging from the possibility of AI being used to wage misinformation campaigns to its use in the creation of biochemical or nuclear weapons.
A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested in Texas in connection with the deadly shooting after a high school graduation ceremony in Fairfield, California last month, police said.
Fairfield police said U.S. Marshals, accompanied by department detectives, served search and arrest warrants Friday morning at a home in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The teen was taken into custody without incident on suspicion of murder and related offenses.
Investigators said the suspect fled California and traveled to Texas within days of the June 3 shooting. He will remain in custody while awaiting extradition to Solano County.
The shooting happened after Sem Yeto Continuation High School’s graduation ceremony, which was held on the Fairfield High School campus.
Police said 18-year-old graduate Jamario Baker died at the scene. Three others – an 11-year-old child and two adults, ages 20 and 25 – were wounded.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s name because he is a minor.
Although an arrest has been made, police said the investigation remains active and detectives continue to pursue additional leads.
“While today’s announcement may provide a measure of relief to some, it does not lessen the pain felt by our community,” the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said in a statement.
Police plan to hold a news conference Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss the case and arrest.
Fairfield is a Northern California city about 40 miles northwest of San Francisco.
A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.
“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”
A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics.
McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live.
“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”
California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns.
“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”
The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums.
“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said.
McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program.
“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”
McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.
Huntington Beach police are vowing to prevent a potential “takeover” event being promoted across social media that they believe could get out of control.
Police said they became aware of the event from a flyer online advertising an “end of summer beach bash” in the city.
“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…” police said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too.”
They continued, “We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”
No further details were provided about when the event was planned to take place or the exact location.
Police and the city of Huntington Beach said they’re working to prevent the event following similar events in Southern California that resulted in violence, vandalism and other criminal activity.
One chaotic event that was held in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July ended with more than 400 people being arrested, according to police. Some partygoers were seen fist fighting, while others allegedly vandalized property and local businesses, including a Pavilions grocery store.
Newport Beach police said social media posts drew a large influx of people to Newport Pier in a short amount of time, and the event got out of control.
Huntington Beach PD warned that anyone who organizes, promotes or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested or prosecuted. Charges may include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy or other applicable offenses.
They also warned that juveniles would not be exempt from punishment, and parents or guardians may also be liable for damages caused by their child’s actions.
The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting the event, according to police.
If you have information regarding this event, you are urged to contact Huntington PD’s Special Investigations Bureau at 714-536-5991.
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