IBM CEO Arvind Krishna Advocates for Racial Equality and Responsible Technology Use
On June 8, 2020, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna addressed Congress with a comprehensive letter proposing actionable steps to promote racial equity in the United States. Among the highlighted measures, IBM announced it has discontinued its general-purpose facial recognition and analysis software, emphasizing the importance of ethical technology use in law enforcement.
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June 8, 2020
To the Honorable Members of Congress:
Karen Bass, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jerrold Nadler
In 1953, long before the Civil Rights Act became law, IBM’s then-president Thomas J. Watson, Jr., declared the company's commitment to equal opportunity, stating:
"Every citizen of this country has an equal right to live and work in America. It is this organization’s policy to hire individuals based on their abilities and qualifications, irrespective of race, color, or creed."
This bold stance was matched with decisive actions, such as refusing to implement Jim Crow laws at IBM facilities. However, recent tragic events, including the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, underscore the persistent urgency to combat systemic racism.
IBM proposes partnering with Congress to achieve meaningful reforms in three critical areas: police accountability, responsible technology practices, and equitable access to skills and education.
Police Accountability
IBM supports stricter federal measures to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct. These include:
- Expanding federal oversight of police misconduct cases.
- Reforming the doctrine of qualified immunity to allow individuals to seek redress for constitutional violations.
- Creating a federal registry of police misconduct to ensure transparency.
- Advocating for legislation like the Walter Scott Notification Act, which mandates reporting on deadly force incidents to the Department of Justice.
IBM commends initiatives such as the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 and is committed to contributing to bipartisan efforts to enact these reforms.
Responsible Technology Practices
IBM has ceased offering general-purpose facial recognition technology and strongly opposes its use for mass surveillance, racial profiling, or violations of fundamental rights. Instead, IBM urges:
- A national dialogue to establish guidelines for the ethical use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement.
- Rigorous testing of artificial intelligence systems to ensure fairness and eliminate bias, particularly in law enforcement applications.
- Advancing technologies that enhance tr
Expanding Opportunities Through Skills and Education
To foster economic growth and empower underserved communities, particularly communities of color, IBM advocates for initiatives that provide accessible pathways to marketable skills, such as:
- P-TECH Schools: IBM’s P-TECH program integrates high school and associate degree curricula, enabling students to graduate debt-free with qualifications in STEM fields. This model, serving over 150,000 students worldwide, is especially impactful in underserved U.S. regions.
- Expanded Pell Grants: IBM recommends extending Pell Grant eligibility to encompass skills training and certification programs for “new collar” jobs that do not require four-year degrees. These reforms should also include incarcerated individuals, broadening access to career pathways that meet the demands of the modern workforce.
IBM stands ready to collaborate with Congress to promote equity, justice, and unity. These proposals mark the beginning of a concerted effort to address systemic challenges and advance national progress.
Sincerely,
Arvind Krishna