Centennial State News

The Oversee Emerging Technology Act Would Require Federal Agencies to Designate Senior Officials to Ensure that Federal Government Use of Emerging Tech Is Consistent with Democratic Values

Washington, D.C. — On May 11, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced the Oversee Emerging Technology Act to require relevant federal agencies to designate a senior official able to advise on the responsible use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. Ensuring that every agency using or procuring these new tools is appropriately staffed will improve accountability and facilitate greater oversight — protecting the American people from the potential harms of government misuse and ensuring that the federal government’s deployment of this technology respects civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and due process.

“The federal government should lead by example to ensure its use of emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, aligns with our democratic values,” said Bennet. “This bill creates clear accountability across federal agencies, charging senior officials with overseeing the responsible adoption and development of new technology.” 

Specifically, the Oversee Emerging Technology Act would: 

• Require agency heads to appoint or designate a senior official tasked with advising on the responsible use of emerging technologies.
• Charge the senior official with providing expertise on responsible policies and practices, collaborate with officials and coordinating bodies across the Federal government, and offer input for responsible procurement policies.
• Require agency heads to identify the official and provide a description of the official’s authorities and responsibilities to Congress.

Bennet has been a strong advocate for youth online safety, data privacy, and improved protections for Americans in the digital era. Last month, Bennet introduced the ASSESS AI Act to create a task force to review existing AI policies across the federal government and ensure the federal government’s AI tools and policies respect civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and due process. In 2022, Bennet introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to create a Federal Digital Platform Commission, an expert federal body empowered to provide common-sense rules of the road for digital platforms to protect consumers, promote competition, and defend the public interest.

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

Original source can be found here