Ella Jung introduces whistleblower practice and warns of AI risks
Ella Jung, partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, says the firm represents whistleblowers against powerful corporations, argues local, state, and federal governments have abdicated responsibility, and says whistleblowers raising existential AI threats need protection.
Yes, Madam Speaker.
Good morning, and good morning to the members of the City Council.
My name is Ella Jung.
I'm a partner at Semper Heisler Sharp McKnight, a national civil rights and public interest litigation firm.
We represent employees who have the courage to speak up against powerful corporations.
Including whistleblowers who expose serious threats to public safety.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, along with my client, Mr.
Devin Kim, about one of the defining challenges of our time, ensuring that the race to develop artificial intelligence does not come at the expense of human safety.
Local, state,
and federal governmental bodies have abdicated their responsibility to protect society.
Whistleblowers who raise existential threats to humanity often pay the ultimate price for doing so.
Those whistleblowers need protection, and you are in the body who can provide that protection.
This body, the New York City Council, has an urgent obligation to protect the employees of New York City who raise issues designed to protect the public and who act in the public good.
There's no more urgent matter facing the city council and indeed every city council, state government and federal body.
We are already at a point of extreme vulnerability.
Mass destruction, societal chaos, and extreme danger are all potentially minutes, days, or weeks away, as you have heard during the October 5th hearing.