Protected Attributes:
- Definition: These are specific characteristics or features of individuals that are legally protected from discrimination. These attributes can vary depending on the jurisdiction but commonly include race, gender, age, disability, religion, national origin, marital status and sexual orientation.
- Context: The term “protected attributes” is often used in discussions about data privacy, machine learning, and AI fairness. In these fields, protected attributes refer to the features in a dataset that should not be used to make biased decisions or predictions.
Common list of Protected Attributes:
- Race and Ethnicity
- Gender
- Gender Identity
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual Orientation
- Religion
- National Origin
- Socioeconomic Status
Protected Classes:
- Definition: Protected classes are groups of people who are protected from discrimination by law. These classes are defined based on certain characteristics, which are the protected attributes.
- Context: The term “protected classes” is primarily used in legal and regulatory contexts, such as employment law, housing law, and civil rights legislation. These laws prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their membership in these classes.
Standards and Guidelines:
The list of standards and guidelines for protected attributes in artificial intelligence (AI) are evolving in an effort to address concerns about bias, fairness, and discrimination. Below are a list of organizations and governing bodies that are working on establishing standards and best practices:
- IEEE 7003-2022 – Standard for Algorithmic Bias Consideration
- ISO/IEC TR 24027:2021 – Bias in AI Systems and AI Aided Decision Making
- EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI
- NIST Special Publication 1270 – Towards a Standard for Identifying and Managing Bias in Artificial Intelligence
- OECD AI Principles
- Partnership on AI – Tenets for Responsible AI
- Algorithmic Accountability Act (Proposed in the U.S.)
- Ethics Guidelines by AI Now Institute
Laws and Regulations:
Protected classes are groups of individuals that are legally protected from discrimination under various laws and regulations.
- US:
- Civil Rights Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- International:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1966):
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (1966)