Southwest Montana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rosendale (MT-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, delivered his opening statement at a hearing titled "The Future of Data Privacy and Artificial Intelligence at VA." The purpose of the hearing was to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on data privacy at the VA and to discuss ways in which Congress can enhance the reliability, security, and efficiency of the VA in light of the increasing prevalence of AI.

Chairman Rosendale began by acknowledging the significance of the topic at hand, stating, "Veterans entrust the VA with data on every aspect of their lives—often more information than any other government agency or company possesses. Yet the VA struggles at every level to comply with the law and keep veterans’ health, personal, and financial information secure." He emphasized the need for improved data privacy measures at the VA, given the frequency of data breaches that have occurred in recent years.

Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Chairman Rosendale shared examples of data breaches that have occurred within the VA, including mass errors by contractors, instances of employees losing or stealing records, and unauthorized access to veterans' data by external entities. He noted that while no large-scale cyberattack on the VA has been disclosed in several years, the department remains a constant target for thousands of attacks every day.

Chairman Rosendale commended VA employees for reporting most of the breaches and stressed the importance of swift action in addressing these incidents. He stated, "The only way to step in before veterans’ data makes its way from unwitting recipients to criminals is to move fast." The chairman acknowledged that while breaches will inevitably occur, it is crucial to minimize the time between the breach and its identification to mitigate the potential harm to veterans.

Shifting the focus to AI, Chairman Rosendale acknowledged the growing prevalence of this technology and its implications for data privacy at the VA. He noted that while the VA has historically operated as an isolated entity, this model is being challenged by the rapid integration of AI into various software systems. Chairman Rosendale expressed concern about the difficulty of controlling the application of AI by the numerous contractors and partner companies that access veterans' data, given the evolving nature of AI technology.

Chairman Rosendale acknowledged the potential benefits of AI in the VA, such as the application of machine learning to analyze medical images and the use of chatbots for customer service. However, he also raised ethical concerns regarding the use of AI in predicting clinical outcomes or mental health problems, emphasizing the need to address potential biases and the impact on civil liberties.

In conclusion, Chairman Rosendale expressed his intention to learn more about the VA's current use of AI and how the witnesses present at the hearing plan to adapt the department's processes as AI technology continues to evolve. The witnesses included Mr. Charles Worthington, Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Gil Alterovitz, Ph.D., Director of the VA National Artificial Intelligence Institute, Mr. John Oswalt, Deputy Chief Information Officer of the Office of Freedom of Information Act, Ms. Stephania Griffin, Director of the Information Access and Privacy Office, and Ms. Shane Tews, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

The hearing aimed to address the pressing issues surrounding data privacy and AI at the VA, with Chairman Rosendale and the witnesses seeking to find solutions to ensure the protection of veterans' personal information while harnessing the potential benefits of AI in improving healthcare outcomes for veterans.