AP reporters Garance Burke and Sally Ho uncovered the data behind some of the most influential artificial intelligence tools used in child welfare cases and showed they specifically flag whether parents have disabilities. Their piece raised concerns of systemic bias in the algorithm used in one county in Pennsylvania, launching a civil rights investigation by the Justice Department. Unspooling the algorithm’s impacts on families with disabilities required deep source work, especially given the opacity of the tools and the counties using them. Ho landed exclusive access to Andrew and Lauren Hackney, parents with developmental disabilities whose baby girl was placed in foster care, and who fear the AI-powered tool discriminated against them.
Deep persistent reporting leads to exclusive package on potential bias in child welfare algorithm
Andrew Hackney hands his 1-year-old daughter back to the Office of Children, Youth and Families services at the end of one of their twice weekly supervised visits in Oakdale, Pa., Nov. 17, 2022.
AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski