The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has accused the UK government of failing to protect workers from the potential discrimination that could be caused by the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The TUC has warned that AI could be used to make decisions about how people are managed, recruited, and dismissed, which could lead to greater discrimination at work. Despite this warning, the government has not introduced the necessary guardrails to stop the exploitation of workers, according to Kate Bell, assistant general secretary at the TUC.
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| UK Government |
Speaking ahead of the TUC's AI conference, Bell said that AI is already being used across the economy to line-manage and hire and fire staff. However, without clear and enforceable protections, this could lead to widespread discrimination and unfair treatment at work. Despite the warnings from the TUC, the UK government has issued vague and flimsy commitments instead of clear and enforceable protections. Regulators have also not been given proper resources, according to Bell.
The TUC has also highlighted the government's AI white paper, which it says "spectacularly failed" to keep pace with the "AI revolution". The TUC commissioned polling in December 2021, which found that 72% of respondents agreed that using technology to make decisions about workers could increase unfair treatment without careful regulation. 82% of respondents supported a legal requirement to consult staff before introducing monitoring in the workplace.
The TUC has also criticized the government's new data protection and digital information bill, which it says is "watering down important protections". The bill would leave workers more vulnerable to unscrupulous employers, according to the TUC.
The TUC's warning highlights the potential dangers of the unregulated use of AI in the workplace. Without proper safeguards, workers could be at risk of discrimination and exploitation. It is essential that the government introduces clear and enforceable protections to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared fairly and that workers are not left vulnerable to unscrupulous employers. The use of AI should be carefully regulated to ensure that workers' rights are protected and that they are not unfairly treated at work.
