In a move towards greater transparency, a Utah lawmaker is championing a bill that mandates police departments to disclose their use of artificial intelligence (AI) in official reports. This initiative, spearheaded by Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek, is encapsulated in SB180, which recently passed the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee with unanimous support. The bill is now poised for consideration by the entire Senate before it proceeds to the House.
The proposed legislation outlines three key requirements for law enforcement agencies in Utah:
Policy Development: Agencies must establish a comprehensive policy detailing the AI technologies they employ, including the contexts and locations where these technologies are permissible.
Disclosure in Reports: Police officers are required to explicitly state when AI has been utilized in the creation of a police report.
Accuracy Certification: The author of the report must include a certification confirming that the report has been reviewed for accuracy.
AI's role in policing has been expanding, with technologies being used for facial recognition, pattern identification, trend analysis, and real-time surveillance data analysis. A U.S. Department of Justice report highlights video analysis as a prevalent application, where AI assists in reviewing notes and body-worn camera footage to aid in report writing.
During a committee meeting, Sen. Pitcher noted that several Utah police agencies are already using AI tools like Axon’s Draft One, which can generate detailed police report narratives swiftly from transcribed body-worn camera audio. Under the new bill, such technologies would remain permissible, provided their use is disclosed in public documents.
Sen. Pitcher emphasized the growing reliance on AI in Utah's law enforcement, stating, "Even since opening this bill, in Utah we are seeing more of a reliance on artificial intelligence. What this bill does is it creates certain minimum standards with regards to how that should be implemented."
Actionable Takeaways:
- For Policymakers: Consider similar transparency measures in your jurisdiction to ensure responsible AI use in law enforcement.
- For Law Enforcement: Develop clear policies and training programs to comply with new transparency requirements.
- For Citizens: Stay informed about how AI is being used in your community and advocate for transparency and accountability.
Summary
- A new Utah bill requires police to disclose AI use in reports.
- The bill mandates policy creation and accuracy certification.
- AI is increasingly used in policing for various analytical tasks.
- Technologies like Axon’s Draft One are already in use.
- The bill aims to set minimum standards for AI implementation in law enforcement.