Pass the ball: Designing accountability into the socio-technical context of algorithmic systems

Pass the ball: Designing accountability into the socio-technical context of algorithmic systems

Albeda, Laurien (TU Delft Applied Sciences; TU Delft Industrial Design Engineering)

Kortuem, Gerd (mentor)
Tromp, Nynke (graduation committee)
Flipse, Steven (graduation committee)
van der Sanden, Maarten (mentor)
de Vries, Marc (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Design for Interaction | Science Communication

2018-09-20

Algorithms are all around us. Based on large amounts of data and through automated decision-making processes, they increasingly exercise power over us. As a way of governing this power, we should be able to hold these algorithms and those responsible for implementing them accountable. This research posed the following research question: How can algorithmic accountability be implemented by design?

A literature review of the theory related to algorithmic accountability was executed, which led to a framework of five aspects that are required for achieving it: responsibility, explainability, debatability, auditability and sanctionability. Within a design case study, the implementation of these five aspects was investigated.

Based on the insights from research and design activities in this research, I conclude that the following guidelines will structure the process of designing accountability mechanisms:

(1) Understand the context in which the algorithm is created and employed;
(2) anticipate unwanted developments or effects of the system;
(3) design context-specific accountability mechanisms based on these findings.

Algorithmic accountability
V2G
Design-based research
Algorithms

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:11f03580-0334-4051-bc14-b21fbb114d1e

Student theses

master thesis

© 2018 Laurien Albeda