JACL Celebrates the Introduction of the AI Civil Rights Act

December 10, 2025

For Immediate Release

Matthew Weisbly, Education Programs Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org

Seia Watanabe, VP of Public Affairs, swatanabe@jacl.org

The JACL celebrates the introduction of the AI Civil Rights Act by Senator Markey and Representative Clarke. As artificial intelligence, such as language-learning models and generative AI, becomes increasingly part of our daily lives, it is critical that we put guardrails in place to hold big tech companies accountable to prevent algorithmic discrimination. Machine learning and generative AI are being widely adopted across a variety of industries, including those that require careful consideration for civil rights, such as government, healthcare, policing, banking, and housing. Technology is not immune to the implicit bias that its creators hold. What we’ve already seen from search engines and commercial software is that the algorithms they utilize consistently replicate the same biases and discrimination that have historically existed in our world, with potentially devastating real-world outcomes.  

A 2019 study published in the Journal Science revealed that commercial healthcare algorithms were around 50% as likely to recommend Black patients for additional care, despite those patients having the same medical needs as White patients. In a separate investigation conducted by Markup in 2021, it was found that Asian and Pacific Islander mortgage applicants were 50% more likely to have their applications denied by commercial algorithms than similarly qualified white applicants. In both cases of algorithmic bias, real disparities were generated by flaws in the algorithms themselves and serious issues with the data used to create and train them. 

While AI technology is already changing our world and has great potential to usher in a new age of innovation, we must ensure that this powerful, emerging technology is used to better our world, rather than to reinforce the discrimination that already exists. The AI Civil Rights Act accomplishes this by prohibiting the sale of software containing discriminatory algorithms, requiring independent audits and internal assessments of new algorithms, and requiring AI developers to mitigate potential harms before, during, and after creation and deployment. In addition to robust regulations, this legislation will empower the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and individuals to enforce protections of our civil rights and liberties and to hold big tech accountable. The JACL is grateful for the leadership of Senator Markey and Representative Clarke in sponsoring this legislation that will protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalized communities in the digital age.

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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.