Rep. Darrin Madison Rejects Bill Allowing Unreliable AI Translation in Criminal Proceedings, Other Government Settings

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Rep. Darrin Madison (D-10) spoke against AB 377, a Republican-authored bill that would allow the use of artificial intelligence in a wide variety of Wisconsin government settings. It would also make English the official language of the state, creating unknown consequences for people with limited English proficiency (LEP) interacting with law enforcement and other state actors.

Rep. Madison (D-10) released the following statement:

“Simply put, ‘artificial intelligence’ is not an acceptable replacement for the hard work of a translator. That’s true in a civil proceeding. That’s especially true in a criminal proceeding. It’s true in our schools, and anywhere people need effective communication.

To quote a testifier with clear expertise on translation needs (Catherine Kirchman):

“Machines cannot be held accountable for the inevitable lack of performance. AI is frequently incorrect without ever notifying the user that it lacks needed information. Who would bear responsibility for such errors, not to mention the cost, as outlined in the fiscal analysis? Wisconsin’s commitment to civil rights and fiscal responsibility require a robust standard for language services.”

AI translation technology can and does fail. When it fails, the backend technology that’s usually owned by a massive, out-of-state tech company is unaccountable. That company may not even be liable, depending on the terms of the licensing agreement. The danger here should be obvious to all as we consider this bill today.

The need for effective, human translators is more urgent than ever, as government agents are flooding the streets of our communities and kidnapping people for the crime of looking like an immigrant. More and more people will be entering our criminal legal systems, and our immigration systems, whether fairly or not. Witnesses, victims, and those accused of crimes must all have access to effective, accountable translation. That is their right and it is necessary if we want true justice.

The people of Wisconsin could be targeted by federal government violence next – and we will need the state of Wisconsin to effectively stand up for our communities if we are.

But that’s not all that’s wrong with this bill. Making English the ‘language of Wisconsin’ is an obvious attack on Wisconsin’s immigrant communities at their most vulnerable. It will create confusion and lack of clarity when government actors are trying to serve the people of Wisconsin. It will cause people with limited English proficiency to avoid seeking public services, avoid interacting with law enforcement, and deepen fear and mistrust. And while I respect the attempt to carve out exceptions, the very need to do so reveals the core flaws of this bill.

Lastly, as we look back to the committee hearing: translators, legal advocates, and those in need of translation services overwhelmingly opposed this bill. My constituents overwhelmingly oppose this bill and are understandably angry we’re even considering it.

They oppose this bill for its irresponsible promotion of ‘artificial intelligence’ and for its English mandate in a state that’s already home to a beautiful variety of languages and cultures. This session, we’ve honored the traditions and histories of the indigenous peoples of Wisconsin, our Hmong neighbors and veterans, and just yesterday we uplifted the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their ongoing struggle for freedom. This bill insults them. The vote is no.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.