New York State Courts Announce Interim Policy for AI Use

 The New York State Unified Court System (UCS) unveiled an interim policy on October 10 governing the use of artificial intelligence across all court functions and devices, aiming to balance the technology’s benefits with its risks.

 The policy, available at https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/a.i.-policy.pdf, applies to all UCS judges, justices, and nonjudicial employees, covering any device used for UCS-related work, whether owned by the court system or not.

Subject to revision, the policy aligns with operational needs, legislation, regulation, and public policy, according to the announcement.  The interim guidelines emphasize the responsible use of AI, particularly generative AI, which can produce human-like text or content based on user prompts. The policy restricts generative AI to UCS-approved tools and mandates initial and ongoing AI training for all judges and nonjudicial employees with computer access.

AI tools hold significant potential to assist with tasks like drafting documents and summarizing data, the policy states, while cautioning that such tools can produce unreliable outputs, including fabricated information, biased content, or inappropriate language. It requires careful review of AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and inclusivity. The policy also addresses risks such as breaches of confidential information and underscores that AI must not be used for decision-making tasks that judges are ethically obligated to perform or in ways that violate the ethical responsibilities of nonjudicial employees.  AI technology must be used in a manner consistent with the ethical obligations of judges and nonjudicial employees, the policy states, setting guardrails to ensure fairness, accountability, and security.

The UCS said the policy reflects a commitment to harnessing AI’s potential while safeguarding the integrity of the court system.

Further revisions may be made as the technology evolves, officials noted.

 

Protect yourself online: Tips for guarding against data breaches and hacking.

Hacking continues to drive the explosion of data breaches. According to New York State officials, 2017 saw the exposure of the personal records of 9.2 million New Yorkers, which is quadruple the 2016 number.

In response, state officials have released suggestions for ways consumers guard can against threats in the following ways:

• Create Strong Passwords for Online Accounts and Update Them Frequently. Use different passwords for different accounts, especially for websites where you have disseminated sensitive information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers.
• Carefully Monitor Credit Card and Debit Card Statements Each Month. If you find any abnormal transactions, contact your bank or credit card agency immediately.
• Do Not Write Down or Store Passwords Electronically. If you do, be extremely careful of where you store passwords. Be aware that any passwords stored electronically (such as in a word processing document or cell phone’s notepad) can be easily stolen and provide fraudsters with one-stop shopping for all your sensitive information. If you hand-write passwords, do not store them in plain sight.
• Do Not Post Any Sensitive Information on Social Media. Information such as birthdays, addresses, and phone numbers can be used by fraudsters to authenticate account information. Practice data minimization techniques. Don’t overshare.
• Always Be Aware of the Current Threat Landscape. Stay up to date on media reports of data security breaches and consumer advisories.

In addition, the following steps are recommended if you believe you have been victimized by a data security breach:

• User Names and Passwords. Change user names and passwords immediately on the relevant account and monitor the account for unusual activity. If you use the same user name or password on other accounts, change those as well.
• Credit Card Numbers. For breaches involving credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other sensitive numbers, create an Identity Theft Report by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and printing your Identity Theft Affidavit. You can call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338 or complete the form online here. Use the Identity Theft Affidavit to file a police report and create your Identity Theft Report. An Identity Theft Report will help you deal with credit reporting companies, debt collectors, and any fraudulent accounts that the identity thief opened in your name. You may also want to put a fraud alert and/or security freeze on your credit report by notifying each of the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). A security freeze is the strongest protection for your credit and remains on your credit file until you remove it or choose to lift it temporarily when applying for credit services.

For more information on how to help protect sensitive personal information against unauthorized disclosures click here.