Washington, May 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released two guidance documents aimed at addressing potential discriminatory uses of artificial intelligence in tenant screening and housing-related advertising.
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman stated, "Under this Administration, HUD is committed to fully enforcing the Fair Housing Act and rooting out all forms of discrimination in housing." The guidance documents are in line with President Joe Biden's Executive Order, which called for actions to combat discrimination enabled by automated tools in real estate transactions.
Demetria McCain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, highlighted that "The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status." She emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance when artificial intelligence is used in tenant screening and housing advertising.
The guidance on tenant screening addresses the concerns arising from the use of third-party screening companies and the emerging use of artificial intelligence in the screening process. It provides best practices for fair and non-discriminatory tenant screening policies for housing providers and screening companies.
Advertisers and online platforms are also cautioned about the risks associated with using targeted advertisement tools covered by the Fair Housing Act. Violations may occur if these tools deny consumers information about housing opportunities based on protected characteristics or target vulnerable consumers for predatory products.
The release of these guidance documents reflects HUD's commitment to enforcing civil rights laws in the face of advancing technologies like artificial intelligence. Individuals who believe they have faced housing discrimination are encouraged to contact HUD or file a complaint through the provided channels.
For more information, the guidance documents can be accessed on the HUD website.
For complaints or inquiries regarding housing discrimination, contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY) or file a complaint at www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.
