Ethical Frameworks for Civic AI: A Seattle Case Study

Abstract

As local governments increasingly adopt AI technologies, there is urgent need for ethical frameworks tailored to civic contexts. This paper presents a comprehensive ethical framework for civic AI developed through extensive community consultation in Seattle. Our framework addresses key concerns including algorithmic fairness, transparency, accountability, and the preservation of human agency in government decision-making.

Key Findings

• •Generic AI ethics frameworks fail to address the unique obligations of public institutions
• •Community members prioritized accountability and redress mechanisms over technical fairness metrics
• •Historical context of discrimination must inform AI deployment in public services
• •Democratic oversight of AI requires new institutional structures and expertise

Methodology

We conducted 24 community workshops across Seattle neighborhoods, engaging over 500 residents in discussions about AI ethics in civic contexts. We supplemented this with interviews with city officials, technologists, and civil rights advocates. Our framework emerged through an iterative process of proposal, feedback, and revision, ensuring that community values were central to the final product.

The Seattle Framework

Our proposed framework consists of five core principles:

1. Transparency: All civic AI systems must be explainable to affected individuals
2. Accountability: Clear chains of responsibility and mechanisms for redress
3. Equity: Active measures to prevent and address algorithmic discrimination
4. Human Agency: AI must augment, not replace, human judgment in consequential decisions
5. Democratic Oversight: Community input into AI adoption and ongoing governance