As we say goodbye to 2020 (good riddance!), what are key policy debates to look out for in 2021 that implicate technology and social justice? Because 2020 has been a turbulent year, raising many equity issues to the fore, I want to focus on those tech policies that will have the greatest impact on theContinue reading “Social Justice and Tech Policy: What To Expect in 2021”
Category Archives: responsible AI
What is Artificial Intelligence for the Sociologist?
In my last blog post, I discussed the need for a Sociology of AI, sidestepping the thorny issue of what AI is. Is it a field of study? Is it a technology or collection of technologies? Is it a product? Is it nothing more than a marketing strategy?
Algorithmic Unfairness and Racial Injustice in America’s Criminal Legal System
In America, we are currently living through a moment of heightened awareness of racialized police brutality and, in response, the reawakening of a racial justice movement. In this same period, we’ve seen an incredible expansion in the use of data analytics and AI technologies in almost all industries, including the criminal legal system. No oneContinue reading “Algorithmic Unfairness and Racial Injustice in America’s Criminal Legal System”
Translating Algorithms
As a sociologist, and now a privacy practitioner, I am interested in the ethical issues we face in using new technologies like AI and machine learning. They are of course many ranging from privacy and fairness to accountability and transparency. But how does a social scientist without a computer science background engage in these topicsContinue reading “Translating Algorithms”
AI Ethics
The conversation about responsible AI is in full swing among industry, governments, international organizations, and academic institutions. Last year in particular saw a flurry of pronouncements about ethical AI with the OECD issuing AI principles, the G20 adopting those same principles, and in 2018 the European Commission set up an independent High-Level Expert Group onContinue reading “AI Ethics”
Europe: a Leader in AI Regulation?
In the past couple of months, EU institutions have taken some preliminary steps to propose a new framework for AI regulation. The idea is to promote innovative AI technologies by creating consumer and societal trust in AI while at the same time preventing potential consumer harms and risks to fundamental human rights. While American leadershipContinue reading “Europe: a Leader in AI Regulation?”
Global Tech Affairs 