Legal, Ethical, and Equity Issues of Artificial Intelligence and Other Technology

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As the promise of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and other technologies and technology platforms expand, it is imperative to consider opportunities to leverage benefits and advance civic well-being, while anticipating and mitigating the potential perils.

While big technical challenges loom regarding the rapid proliferation of these applications, there are critical issues about technology implementation that raise complex legal, regulatory, and ethical questions. Further, the intersection of technology and equity in all forms poses choices which every community confronts.

Through the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, the RAND Feinberg Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Compensation, and the RAND Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy, among other components, RAND is conducting deep analysis on these topics.

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning

Will We Hold Algorithms Accountable for Bad Decisions?
As artificial intelligence algorithms become incorporated into more decision processes that affect individuals' welfare and well-being, public perceptions of the technology will have many implications, including for jury judgments about algorithmic liability and support for AI regulation.
Elina Treyger, Jirka Taylor, et al.
Addressing the Challenges of Algorithmic Equity
Social institutions increasingly use algorithms for decisionmaking purposes. How do different perspectives on equity or fairness inform the use of algorithms in the context of auto insurance pricing, job recruitment, and criminal justice?
Osonde A. Osoba @OsondeOsoba, Benjamin Boudreaux, et al.

Technology and Access to Justice

Emerging Technology Trends and Their Impact on Criminal Justice
The criminal-justice arena faces an abundance of information technology opportunities. However, those opportunities are hindered by barriers including a lack of business cases; a lack of implementation plans and procedures; and a lack of security, privacy, and civil-rights protections.
John S. Hollywood @JohnS_Hollywood, Dulani Woods, et al.
Leveraging Technology to Support Prisoner Reentry
How can technology help ease the transition from jails or prisons back into the community—and ensure better outcomes for individuals who have been incarcerated?
Joe Russo, Michael J. D. Vermeer @MJDVermeer, et al.
Using Future Broadband Communications Technologies to Strengthen Law Enforcement
Experts in law enforcement operations and broadband technologies identified the priority technology needs to help law enforcement best leverage future communications capabilities.
John S. Hollywood @JohnS_Hollywood, Dulani Woods, et al.

Infrastructure, Technology, and Equity

How Technology Could Better Serve Refugees and Those Who Help Them
Millions of refugees and the agencies that assist them have turned to technology as a vital resource, but gaps remain. How can tech be developed and used more strategically in humanitarian settings?
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, James Dimarogonas, et al.
Smart Cities as Large Technological Systems
Smart cities are made up of not just of technologies but organizational processes. As policymakers race to develop "smart cities" to solve governance challenges, increase efficiencies, and empower residents, researchers offer pathways for local governments to overcome organizational challenges,.
Jared Mondschein @JSMondschein, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg, et al.
A Case for Promoting Infrastructure Equity for the Olympics
In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games for the third time. A critical factor for successfully hosting will be for planners to ask hard questions early, so the community can collaborate with the organizing committee, informing its response to critical themes such as homes, health, transport, jobs, society, and culture.
Cristian Cardenas

Autonomous Systems, Safety, and Law

A Comparative Look at Various Countries' Legal Regimes Governing Automated Vehicles
What is the nature of different AV legal regimes around the world? A summary of the makeup of AV legal regimes of Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom highlights some key contrasts.
Brittany Eastman, Shay Collins, et al.
Autonomous Vehicles and the Future of Auto Insurance
The existing automobile insurance system in the United States should be flexible enough to accommodate the introduction of autonomous vehicles. Some changes to the insurance model may be indicated as vehicles incorporate higher levels of automation, but it is too early to make radical changes.
Karlyn D. Stanley, Michelle Grisé, et al.
When Can Automated Vehicles Be Considered Safe Enough?
Establishing whether automated vehicles are acceptably safe is not straightforward, and continual technology development adds complication. Agreeing on the approaches to assess AV safety and improving communication about safety are important for building and sustaining public trust.
Marjory S. Blumenthal @MarjorySB, Laura Fraade-Blanar, et al.
When Autonomous Vehicles Are Hacked, Who Is Liable?
Who might face civil liability if autonomous vehicles (AVs) are hacked? How will the civil justice and insurance systems adjust to handle such claims? Researchers addressed these questions to prepare for the shifting roles and responsibilities that the era of AVs may bring.
Zev Winkelman, Maya Buenaventura, et al.
How to Realize Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Mobility Benefits
Self-driving vehicles could improve public safety. They could also improve mobility for older Americans, people with disabilities, and others. How can policymakers help ensure that these benefits are realized?
Nidhi Kalra
Self-Driving Vehicles Offer Potential Benefits, Policy Challenges for Lawmakers
Self-driving vehicles offer the promise of significant benefits to society, but raise several policy challenges, including the need to update insurance liability regulations and privacy concerns such as who will control the data generated by this technology.
James M. Anderson, Nidhi Kalra, et al.