Julie Won Introduces AI Oversight Office For New Yorkers

A City Council bill would establish an Office of Artificial Intelligence Oversight inside the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The office would be led by a director appointed by the commissioner and would receive, review, and respond to complaints about allegedly unlawful AI systems. It would operate an online complaint portal, conduct public outreach, and issue consumer advisories. It would also recommend enforcement actions or refer matters to other city agencies. The proposal is intended to address enforcement gaps identified by a December 2, 2025 audit of the city’s AI in hiring rules. The audit found few complaints received and potential noncompliance by companies, and urged better complaint routing, stronger technical review, and proactive investigations.

"The legislation would create an Office of Artificial Intelligence Oversight within DCWP, headed by a director appointed by the commissioner and tasked with receiving, reviewing and responding to complaints about allegedly unlawful AI use. The office would run an online complaint portal, carry out public outreach and issue consumer advisories, and recommend enforcement actions or referrals to other city agencies. Those responsibilities appear in the bill text, according to New York City Council Legistar."

"The measure dropped in the wake of a December 2, 2025 audit that took issue with how the city has enforced its AI in hiring rules. The Office of the New York State Comptroller found that DCWP received only two complaints involving automated employment decision tools during the review window and identified at least 17 potential cases of noncompliance among the companies it examined. The audit pressed the city for better complaint routing, stronger technical review and more proactive investigations to catch employers that do not self report, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller."

"Under New York City's Local Law 144, employers that use automated employment decision tools must obtain an independent bias audit within a year of using the tool, publish a summary of the results and notify job candidates that an AEDT will be used. DCWP set the implementing rules and began enforcing the law"

Read at Hoodline