Aligned with the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights? An Artificial Intelligence Transparency Evaluation of Company Privacy Notices and Explanations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-27-2025

Source Publication

Obar, Jonathan A., et al. “Aligned with the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights? An Artificial Intelligence Transparency Evaluation of Company Privacy Notices and Explanations.” Telecommunications Policy, 102977, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102977.

Abstract

In 2022, U.S. President Biden's administration released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. The Blueprint lists “notice and explanation” as one of five principles fundamental to delivering consumer protections as artificial intelligence (AI) is developed and used. This qualitative assessment of 40 company websites evaluates the extent to which privacy/AI notices align with this call for AI transparency. The assessment assigns full, half, or zero stars on ten transparency criteria, including (among others): whether notices are accessible via company websites and in plain language, reference applicable laws, explain how AI systems work, their risks, data retention policies, and data storage/processing policies. Findings suggest companies convey privacy transparency elements but disclose few details about the use/implications of AI. The average score across the sample is 2.95/10 stars. Each company provides homepage access to notices and information about applicable law. Many provide details about data storage/processing though only eighteen describe data retention. While some provide minimal definitions of automated systems, few explain how AI systems work or the risks of use. 34/40 require a grade twelve or higher reading-level, and most provide AI details away from the privacy policy. To support the auditability of AI systems via consent-based protections companies should improve upon these transparency efforts. Companies should better-align with calls for AI transparency like those from the Biden White House, currently accessible via the U.S. National Archives. Accessible and plain language notices are recommended, as are details about how AI systems work, and the implications of AI development and use.

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