Photo of Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/USPhoto of Adelicia R. CliffePhoto of Jonathan M. BakerPhoto of Michelle ColemanPhoto of Laura J. Mitchell Baker

On December 3, 2020, the President issued Executive Order 13960, Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government. The Executive Order signals yet again the Federal Government’s emphasis on the use of AI and the importance of ensuring that AI is used in a manner that does not violate Americans’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties, consistent with the previously issued Executive Order 13859 and Department of Defense policy announcements covered herehere, and here. The Order encourages agencies to continue to use AI and establishes principles for their use, at least for purposes other than national security and defense.

The principles established in the Executive Order are as follows:

  1. Agencies must use AI in a manner that respects the Nation’s values and is consistent with the Constitution and other laws and regulations.
  2. Agencies must assess and manage the risks of using AI and ensure that the benefits of using AI outweigh the risks.
  3. Agencies must ensure that the application of AI is accurate, reliable, and effective.
  4. Agencies must ensure that AI applications are safe, secure, and resilient.
  5. Agencies must ensure that the outputs from AI applications are understandable.
  6. Agencies must ensure that human responsibilities are clearly defined for AI applications, and that inputs for and outputs from AI applications are documented and traceable.
  7. Agencies must ensure that AI applications are regularly monitored, including testing each application against these established principles.
  8. Agencies must be transparent regarding their use of AI and provide relevant information to appropriate stakeholders like Congress and the public.
  9. Finally, agencies shall be accountable for ensuring proper safeguards for the use and function of AI applications.

These principles are likely to play a role in future procurements and applications of AI, including (1) how agencies procure AI applications, (2) what information agencies will require contractors to provide regarding their AI applications, and (3) how agencies test and audit government contracts for AI applications or government contracts whose performance relies on the use of AI applications.

We will continue to monitor and report on these developments.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US

Kate M. Growley (CIPP/US, CIPP/G) is a director in Crowell & Moring International’s Southeast Asia regional office. Drawing from over a decade of experience as a practicing attorney in the United States, Kate helps her clients navigate and shape the policy and regulatory…

Kate M. Growley (CIPP/US, CIPP/G) is a director in Crowell & Moring International’s Southeast Asia regional office. Drawing from over a decade of experience as a practicing attorney in the United States, Kate helps her clients navigate and shape the policy and regulatory environment for some of the most complex data issues facing multinational companies, including cybersecurity, privacy, and digital transformation. Kate has worked with clients across every major sector, with particular experience in technology, health care, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. Kate is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) in both the U.S. private and government sectors by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). She is also a Registered Practitioner with the U.S. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Cyber Accreditation Body (AB).

Photo of Adelicia R. Cliffe Adelicia R. Cliffe

Adelicia Cliffe is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, a member of the Steering Committee for the firm’s Government Contracts Group, and a member of the International Trade Group. Addie is also co-chair of the firm’s National Security practice. Addie has been…

Adelicia Cliffe is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, a member of the Steering Committee for the firm’s Government Contracts Group, and a member of the International Trade Group. Addie is also co-chair of the firm’s National Security practice. Addie has been named as a nationally recognized practitioner in the government contracts field by Chambers USA.

Photo of Jonathan M. Baker Jonathan M. Baker

Jonathan M. Baker is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. He practices in the Government Contracts Group.

Jon advises clients on a wide array of government contracts legal issues, including both federal and state bid protests, prime-sub disputes, government contracts…

Jonathan M. Baker is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. He practices in the Government Contracts Group.

Jon advises clients on a wide array of government contracts legal issues, including both federal and state bid protests, prime-sub disputes, government contracts due diligence and transactions, regulatory compliance, and contract terminations. Jon’s practice has a notable emphasis on technology-related issues, including counseling clients in the areas of patent and data rights, responding to government challenges to technical data and computer software rights assertions, and litigating cases involving complex and cutting edge technologies. Jon also provides guidance on national security matters, such as National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual compliance and facility and security clearance matters. In addition, Jon has advised clients on local government contract negotiation, internal and government investigations regarding potential False Claims Act issues, and export violations. Jon is also actively involved in the firm’s pro bono program, having litigated prisoner neglect, parental rights termination, and landlord-tenant matters.

Photo of Michelle Coleman Michelle Coleman

Michelle D. Coleman is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s renowned Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and…

Michelle D. Coleman is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s renowned Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and requests for equitable adjustments, terminations, prime-sub disputes, other transaction authority, and AI.

Michelle also has an active pro bono practice, representing clients as an attorney volunteer with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Michelle has helped multiple clients receive long term housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program and other permanent voucher programs. In addition to being a volunteer, Michelle serves as an ambassador and as co-chaired the firm’s fundraising campaign for the Clinic for the last two years.

Prior to working at Crowell & Moring, Michelle served as an attorney in the Air Force’s Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, where she provided acquisition and litigation risk advice on procurements valued over $14 billion on major Air Force procurements. She also served as a trial attorney in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate. As a trial attorney, Michelle litigated complex contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As an Air Force litigator, Michelle litigated a broad range of issues before the ASBCA, including organizational conflicts of interest; small business issues; price realism analysis; past performance; NAICS code issues; technical acceptability; nonmanufacturing rule, brand name, or equal issues; construction claims; commercial items; terminations; assignment of claims; reprocurement; limitation of funds; release; differing site conditions; setoffs/withholding; and evidentiary issues. Among the construction cases, Michelle litigated a $28 million Air Force design-build construction claim involving complex differing site conditions and delay issues, and she also litigated and won a claim for alleged defective specifications, undisclosed information, constructive interpretation, and technical impossibility for a contract for the design and construction of an Air Force dynamic break test stand.

Before her Air Force career, Michelle was employed by a defense contractor, where she gained valuable government contract experience in her roles as a business analyst and a subcontracts administrator. Michelle’s government and contractor experience gives her the unique ability to take both parties’ perspectives into consideration when providing advice on government contract issues.

Photo of Laura J. Mitchell Baker Laura J. Mitchell Baker

Laura J. Mitchell Baker is a counsel with Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Laura represents government contractors in litigation and administrative matters, including contract disputes with state and federal entities, suspension and debarment proceedings, mandatory disclosures…

Laura J. Mitchell Baker is a counsel with Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Laura represents government contractors in litigation and administrative matters, including contract disputes with state and federal entities, suspension and debarment proceedings, mandatory disclosures to the government, prime-sub disputes, and False Claims Act investigations. Her practice also includes counseling on federal, state, and local government contracts, government contracts due diligence, and regulatory and compliance matters, as well as conducting internal investigations.