Apple is in potentially hot water over news that its credit card – Apple Card – is reducing credit limits for women.
An investigation is now ongoing after a cardholder’s Tweet about his wife’s credit limit went viral.
The American businessman Tweeted that the Apple Card is a “fu**king sexist program”. He said that the card’s algorithm had given him 20 times the available limit of his wife (even though they file joint tax returns, and she has a higher credit score).
The man went on to Tweet several exasperated screenshots of fruitless discussions with Apple customer service agents, who were unable to explain the disparity between his limit and his wife’s.
Apple Card uses a ‘black box’ algorithm to automatically calculate credit limits. The term black box refers to artificial intelligence that cannot be explained.
The state of New York is currently looking into whether or not Apple is engaged with gender discrimination. According to Lina Lacewell, superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, “we are conducting an investigation to determine whether New York law was violated and ensure all consumers are treated equally regardless of sex.”
“Any algorithm that intentionally or not results in discriminatory treatment of women or any other protected class of people violates New York law.”
