Lək̓ʔəŋən [LEKWUNGEN] TERRITORY / VICTORIA, B.C. — Emily Lowan, Leader of the BC Green Party, has called for divestment in AI corporations from the BC NDP’s Minister of State for AI and New Technologies, following past disclosures from Minister Rick Glumac regarding his personal investments. Lowan also expressed support for immediate regulatory action on AI.
In a recent video, Lowan shared evidence that Rick Glumac holds an investment in an exchange traded fund (ETF), Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology, which holds shares in predatory AI corporations, including Palantir and Oracle. Palantir and Oracle hold contracts with ICE and have been accused of widespread, unregulated surveillance.
“We cannot trust the BC NDP to take the necessary actions and use their leverage to regulate AI until Rick Glumac divests,” stated Lowan.
Glumac was invested in, but recently sold an ETF, Invesco Wilder Clean Energy. It had a top holding in a corporation providing energy for data centres operating in BC.
“The ‘invest first, regulate later’ model is untenable,” said Lowan. “AI corporations have shown flagrant disregard for working peoples’ rights, safety, and privacy.”
Lowan pointed to multiple examples of AI’s lack of regulation leading to harm to British Columbians: OpenAI’s lack of transparency regarding the Tumbler Ridge Shooting; a recent study which revealed that ChatGPT played down the seriousness of medical emergencies in more than half of cases; the Bank of Canada’s governor stating AI may be “boosting youth unemployment.”
Lowan called for a moratorium on AI data centres, and protections for workers facing surveillance and job-loss due to AI implementation. She also called for a suite of regulations, including a ban on AI offering physical and mental health advice, legal advice, and engineering advice, as well as a ban on AI usage in political communications.
“Corporations will never regulate themselves,” stated Lowan. “It’s the government’s job to protect working people, even when it goes against the wishes of tech billionaires.”
Lowan concluded with direct questions for the BC NDP:
“Will our Minister of State for AI divest his own personal stake in AI? If British Columbians can’t trust the person the government appointed to deal with AI, why should they believe they’ll be protected?”
“Workers, unions, and experts have been saying the same thing: stop capitulating to corporations and start regulating AI.”
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Prym Goodacre, Media & Press Secretary
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