The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently released a list of AI use cases that are banned for agency missions. Through a new directory, DHS aims to establish governance policies for acquiring, testing, operating, and reporting AI incidents across the department.

For instance, DHS employees are prohibited from relying solely on AI outputs for law or civil enforcement actions or denying government benefits. They must not use AI to make decisions or profiles based on unlawful considerations such as race, gender, or religion, nor engage in improper surveillance, tracking, or discrimination.

DHS prohibits the following uses of AI and AI-related data at DHS:

1. Relying on AI outputs as the sole basis for law enforcement actions (like arrests, searches, seizures, or issuing citations), civil enforcement actions (such as fines or injunctions), or denial of government benefits.

2. Using AI and/or AI-related data to make or support decisions based on unlawful or improper factors like race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, nationality, medical condition, disability, emotional state, or future behavior predictions.

3. Improperly profiling, targeting, or discriminating against individuals or entities based on the characteristics mentioned above, or in retaliation for exercising Constitutional rights.

4. Using AI for unlawful or improper large-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking of individuals.

5. Sharing DHS data or AI outputs with third parties for uses that are prohibited by law or DHS policy.

6. Any other uses of AI or related data that are prohibited by applicable laws and policies.

“The purpose is to advance AI innovation and governance while managing risks from the use of AI, particularly those affecting the

safety or rights of individuals,” DHS said in the directory.

This directive encompasses all AI applications within DHS, including those used by Intelligence Community (IC) elements or as part of a National Security System.

Earlier this month, DHS announced the launch of DHSChat, an AI-powered chatbot designed exclusively for use within the department. DHSChat is available to around 19,000 employees at DHS Headquarters and select pilot users across ten operating agencies.