Grant Fergusson

This honestly reminds me of the public sector’s embrace of economic efficiency in the 1970s-80s. Same rulebook, same legitimizing role, and same lack of pushback.

There’s no denying it. The tech industry has spent the past two decades convincing us that innovation and disruption are intrinsically good. And they’ve largely succeeded: policymakers now flock to tech as a solution for every problem.

Innovation is the goal; helping people is secondary.

If Kevin’s track record is any indication, TechTonic Justice will be a titan in the space of AI and economic justice. Thrilled to see it launched!

10/10 Want to read more? Check out EPIC's full complaint here: https://epic.org/epic-urges-ftc-to-investigate-thomson-reuters-fraud-detection-system-in-new-complaint/

9/10 This has been 3 years in the making, but it's not the end. The issues we highlight are central to many AI tools today: high error rates, data bias, poor oversight. It's time we stop relying on faulty AI to "fix" our problems and start viewing AI as a problem itself.

8/10 Our complaint argues that Thomson Reuters' development and operation of Fraud Detect is unfair under the FTC Act and violates several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Thousands of consumers are being harmed, and the FTC has the power to intervene.

7/10 It's time we do something about Thomson Reuters' flagrant abuse of consumer data to peddle faulty AI products that harm those most in need. So EPIC filed an FTC complaint.

6/10 If you're wondering how that works, it's simple: it doesn't. Reports from California, a state that uses Fraud Detect, suggests that the system is more often than not wrong. Accuracy rates were as low as 46%! (https://perma.cc/98SC-LGYH)

5/10 Here's the thing: Fraud Detect doesn't just use data we'd expect for fraud detection. It uses everything from social media data, how far someone travels for groceries, and where someone lives. People are losing public benefits because of their social media profiles!

4/10 Now, for our complaint: Thomson Reuters (the massive conglomerate behind Reuters, Westlaw, and tons of other services) contracts with several states and D.C. to provide an automated benefits fraud detection system known primarily as "Fraud Detect."

3/10 These vendors aren't tiny, no-name companies. Massive firms like Deloitte, LexisNexis, and Thomson Reuters are all in on the game, making millions off state contracts. I wrote more on this last year: https://t.co/JwkwQ9A9wk

2/10 Across the country, state agencies rely increasingly on private AI vendors to manage public benefits programs. These vendors operate in opaque ways, meaning that agencies sometimes rely on AI decisions they don't understand to determine benefits eligibility.

1/10 🚨NEW🚨 After three years investigating public benefits technologies, EPIC has filed an FTC complaint against Thomson Reuters for its development and operation of a faulty benefits fraud system. A 🧵

Really proud of this report and the EPIC folks that made it possible! Check it out for info on the ways states are purchasing & using AI 👀