Protected Attribute
A characteristic of individuals, such as race, gender, age, disability or religion, that is legally protected from discrimination and must be considered in fairness assessments of AI systems.
In plain language
Personal characteristics that laws say you cannot discriminate against, like race, gender, age, religion or disability. AI systems must be especially careful not to make unfair decisions based on these attributes.
Why this matters
Understanding protected attributes is fundamental to AI risk management and regulatory compliance. Your data governance and AI development policies must address how protected attributes are handled across all jurisdictions you operate in, particularly under Australian Privacy Act provisions and emerging state-based protections.
Relevance
GovernanceAustralian privacy and anti-discrimination laws explicitly protect these attributes; organisations must demonstrate due diligence in preventing AI systems from using them directly or indirectly to discriminate.
Related terms
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