CDT joined 15 civil society organizations and individuals in a letter to the Biden Administration, outlining baseline requirements for inclusion in a forthcoming National Security Memorandum. The memorandum is intended to address "the governance of AI used as a component of a national security system or for military and intelligence purposes." This directive follows Executive Order No. 14,110 on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, which mandates the completion of this memorandum by July 26.
The letter emphasizes the importance of establishing meaningful standards for AI use in national security contexts due to its involvement in significant government decisions. These decisions include who may be surveilled, placed on government watchlists, subjected to intrusive searches at borders, labeled as a "risk" or "threat" to national security, allowed to travel or immigrate to the United States, or targeted with lethal force.
The letter asserts that AI systems will enhance U.S. security only if they are unbiased and effective, respect civil rights and liberties, are responsibly governed and overseen, and are understood by the public. Therefore, it is crucial that the memorandum provides clear rules for governance, transparency, accountability, external oversight; uniform standards for risk management; and adherence to domestic and international legal norms.
"This memorandum is an important opportunity for the United States to re-commit to using AI to protect our national security in a way that is consistent with our values," states the letter.
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