HackerOne Introduces Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor Framework

HackerOne has unveiled the Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor, a new framework designed to provide legal protections for researchers engaged in good-faith testing of AI systems. This initiative addresses the legal ambiguities that often accompany AI testing, which can slow down responsible research and increase risks associated with AI deployment. The framework allows organizations to clearly authorize and support AI research, ensuring that researchers can operate without fear of legal repercussions.

The Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor builds on HackerOne’s existing Gold Standard Safe Harbor, which was introduced in 2022 to protect security research in traditional software. By integrating these two frameworks, HackerOne aims to create a comprehensive approach to authorizing and protecting research across both conventional and AI-powered systems.

Organizations adopting this framework commit to recognizing good-faith AI research as authorized activity. This includes refraining from legal action against researchers, providing exemptions from restrictive terms of service, and offering support if third parties pursue claims related to authorized research. The safe harbor applies specifically to AI systems owned or controlled by the adopting organization, fostering responsible disclosure and collaboration.

Ilona Cohen, Chief Legal and Policy Officer at HackerOne, emphasized that the clarity provided by this framework is essential for effective AI testing. She noted that organizations desire their AI systems to be tested, but researchers need assurance that their efforts will not expose them to legal risks. The Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor aims to eliminate this uncertainty.

Kara Sprague, CEO of HackerOne, highlighted the importance of trust in AI security. She stated that without real-world testing, trust in AI systems can erode quickly. By extending safe harbor protections to AI research, HackerOne is setting a standard for responsible testing in the AI era, enabling organizations to identify issues earlier and work productively with researchers.

The Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor is available to HackerOne customers as a standalone framework, which can be adopted alongside the Gold Standard Safe Harbor. Organizations that implement this framework signal to researchers that AI testing is welcome, authorized, and protected, ultimately leading to higher-quality testing and improved outcomes.