Michigan Bill Seeks to Regulate AI Monitoring in Workplaces
The rise of artificial intelligence in workplace settings has prompted Michigan lawmakers to consider new regulations. A proposed bill in the state’s House of Representatives aims to control how companies use AI to oversee their employees.
AI-based monitoring tools are increasingly available, with companies providing software that can track workers’ computer activities, monitor their keystrokes and mouse movements, and log their break times. Resources such as Forbes highlight the growing market for these surveillance solutions.
Advocates of the legislation argue that it’s essential for employees to be informed about any monitoring and to understand the scope of data collected. The bill would also impose restrictions on the types of data that can be gathered.
State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, a Democrat from East Lansing, is spearheading the bill. She expressed concerns over the potential invasiveness of AI when misapplied. “We want to work with small businesses, large businesses, anyone who might be thinking about using these techniques, just to make sure that they’re being used properly, that they’re being used effectively, that they’re not being used unethically,” Tsernoglou stated at a recent press conference.
Proponents of employee monitoring software argue that such tools can enhance productivity and curb time wastage. For instance, KeepActive, an AI monitoring company, claims on its website that their products help ensure accountability among employees. “The mere fact of implementing software for monitoring employees helps keep them all in check. Being aware that the actual results of their work are constantly being tracked and that their manager can see a thorough picture of their workday at any time, your team starts to perform better,” the website states.
Despite these claims, Tsernoglou and her supporters worry about the disciplinary aspects of AI monitoring. During the press conference, concerns were raised about the negative impact AI-generated productivity reports could have on employees.
Echoing these apprehensions, Jeff Breslin, President of the Michigan Nurses Association, highlighted the potential misuse of AI in healthcare settings. “There needs to be guardrails around it. Because, to just open the door, there’s a lot of bad, bad things that could happen with that. And it’s not just for the workers, it’s for the people that we take care of, it’s for the people that we do business for,” Breslin emphasized.
Supporters of the bill assert they are not opposed to AI in the workplace altogether and recognize its potential to improve workers’ lives. The proposed legislation is part of a broader effort to regulate AI, building on prior laws in Michigan that address the misuse of deepfakes for political or non-consensual sexual purposes, both of which received bipartisan support.
In discussions about the bill’s future, Tsernoglou mentioned ongoing talks with Republican members, who currently hold the majority in Michigan’s House of Representatives, though she has not yet received a definitive response.
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