AI in BC's FOI: Speed vs Trust

0:00It's April 3rd, this is Vancouver News today, local news powered by AI. British Columbia's government is now using artificial intelligence to handle freedom of information requests faster. They are testing AI tools under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to review handwritten documents and redact personal details, like names, addresses and phone numbers. This push aims to modernize a system bogged down by delays. The province hired Victoria-based ALT technologies with a $5.7 million contract starting in 2022 to build the setup. Requests have grown more complex, with average response page counts of 86% over 5 years. They added a $10 filing fee in 2021 to cut volume, but backlogs persist despite fewer requests and higher processing fees collected last year. Experts are raising red flags over privacy risks and lack of public input. Folks like University of Toronto Professor Evan Light worry that once personal data hits AI, control slips away, especially with tools tied to.

1:07Companies like Microsoft, critics fear it could lead to job cuts in public service rather than real fixes and there's no clear policy on accountability for AI decisions. Plans are expanding, with ALT noting AI could shave up to a week off response times and handle more redactions. A new app for analysts rolls out later this month, and federal agencies in Canada are doing similar things, like tools for duplicates and sensitive info. No routine disclosure of AI was used on your request. As governments lean harder into AI for these public records, the big question lingers on balancing speed, with trust, will more tech mean better access? Or just new shadows on transparency?