OUR AI policy

1. Purpose & Commitment

1.1 Why Civic Influencers Use AI:

Civic Influencers aims to strengthen democracy by empowering young people. Recognizing the evolving technological landscape, we see AI's potential to enhance our work. We will use AI tools to:

  • Enhance Content Creation: Develop engaging educational resources, social media content, and campaign materials efficiently.

  • Improve Data Analysis: Analyze trends in civic engagement, understand audience needs, and measure program effectiveness.

  • Expand Outreach and Engagement: Personalize communication, tailor content to diverse audiences, and improve resource accessibility.

  • Streamline Operations: Automate tasks, improve workflows, and optimize resource allocation.

  • Enhancing Donor Targeting: We will leverage AI-driven analytics to identify high-potential donors, predict giving patterns, and personalize outreach, improving overall fundraising success and efficiency.

1.2 Commitment to Ethical and Responsible AI:

We are committed to using AI ethically and responsibly. We acknowledge both its power and its risks. This policy guides our AI adoption with fairness, transparency, accountability, and respect for human dignity. We commit to:

  • Prioritizing human-driven civic engagement.

  • Protecting the privacy and security of our audiences.

  • Preventing AI misuse for manipulation or misinformation.

  • Maintaining public trust through transparent practices.

2. Ethical AI Principles

2.1 Transparency, Fairness, and Accountability:

  • Transparency: We will be open about when and how we use AI tools. We aim for understandable and explainable AI.

  • Fairness: We will actively work to identify and mitigate biases in AI to prevent discriminatory outcomes and promote equity.

  • Accountability: Human staff will be accountable for decisions made using AI. We will establish review and feedback processes.

2.2 Prevention of Biases and Misinformation:

  • Bias Mitigation: We will use diverse datasets and regularly audit AI systems for bias.

  • Combating Misinformation:

    • Cautious Content: We will prioritize accuracy in AI-generated content, with human oversight for verification.

    • Targeting Misinformation: We will explore using AI to identify and counter misinformation, including:

      • AI-Driven Detection

      • Analysis of Campaigns

      • AI-Assisted Counter-Narratives

      • Strategic Dissemination

    • Ethical Considerations for Counter-Misinformation:

      • Accuracy and Verification

      • Transparency

      • Respect for Dialogue

      • Data Privacy

2.3 Safeguarding Data Privacy and Security:

  • Data Privacy: We will protect user data according to regulations like GDPR and CCPA.

  • Data Security: We will implement security measures like encryption and access controls, and be transparent about data practices.

3. Use Cases & Limitations

3.1 AI’s Role in Civic Influencers’ Work:

  • Content Generation (AI-Assisted): Drafting content, generating summaries, creating templates. (Note: Human review and approval are mandatory.)

  • Data Analysis: Analyzing website traffic, engagement, and trends. (Note: Human interpretation is essential.)

  • Outreach and Engagement: Personalizing communications, using chatbots (with disclosure). (Note: Personalization will not be manipulative.)

3.2 Human Oversight in AI-Generated Outputs:

  • Human-in-the-Loop: Human judgment and oversight are central to all AI applications.

  • Review and Approval: All public-facing AI-generated outputs will be reviewed and approved by staff.

3.3 Limitations of AI and Areas for Human Intervention:

  • Areas Requiring Human Expertise:

    • Strategic Decision Making

    • Complex Communication and Relationship Building

    • Creative and Original Thought

    • Ethical and Moral Judgments

  • Acknowledging AI’s Imperfections: We will monitor AI performance and be prepared to correct errors.

4. Data Protection & Privacy

4.1 Compliance with Data Privacy Regulations:

We commit to complying with GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant laws.

4.2 Data Collection, Storage, and Protection When Using AI:

  • Data Minimization: Collect only necessary data.

  • Transparency and Consent: Be transparent about data collection and obtain consent where needed.

  • Secure Data Storage: Use secure storage and encryption.

  • Data Retention and Deletion: Establish clear policies and inform users of their rights.

  • Data Anonymization and Pseudonymization: Where possible, anonymize data.

5. Nonprofit-Specific Considerations

5.1 AI Supporting, Not Replacing, Human-Driven Civic Engagement:

  • Human-Centric Approach: AI will support and enhance human efforts, not replace them.

  • Empowering Human Leadership: AI will provide insights and resources to empower leaders, not supplant them.

5.2 Ensuring AI Does Not Manipulate or Mislead Audiences:

  • Guard Against Manipulation: Prevent AI use for manipulative practices.

  • Combatting Disinformation: Prevent AI from generating or spreading misinformation.

  • Promoting Informed Consent: Ensure users understand when AI is involved.

6. Transparency & Public Accountability

6.1 Disclosure of AI-Generated Content:

  • Transparency Markers: Consider using labels like "AI-assisted content."

  • Contextual Transparency: Provide context about AI use, especially in chatbots.

6.2 Commitment to Ongoing Evaluation and Improvement:

  • Regular Policy Review: Review and update the policy annually or as needed.

  • Performance Monitoring and Audits: Monitor AI performance for bias and accuracy.

  • Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for feedback and continuous improvement.

  • Designated Oversight: The [Leadership Team/Designated Committee] will oversee the policy.