Is the Government Really in Control of Its Algorithms?

There have been numerous calls for algorithmic accountability in the government space, including from AI Now, which has developed Algorithmic Impact Assessments as a practical framework for public agency accountability. A 2018 report by Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center, which studies the internet and society, made recommendations for how government could be more transparent and accountable for the algorithms it uses. Step one involves establishing technical standards that encourage transparency and eliminate bias, and step two introduces procurement guidelines to ensure that government software meets those standards. And between those two steps is algorithmic auditing. Setting technical and ethical standards is an opportunity to rethink some of our social processes, and build a more inclusive vision of the future.