algorithm ethics
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
When individual choice inhibits choice:Algorithm Ethics
Joerg Blumtritt@jbenno
Social Media Week Berlin, 2013
This algorithm does not contain a value judgment
2
def eratosthenes(n):multiples = []for i in xrange(2, n+1):
if i not in multiples:print ifor j in xrange(i*i, n+1, i):
multiples.append(j)
... the algorithm behind this map does!
3
4
"Urteilskraft überhaupt ist das Vermögen, das Besondere als enthalten unter dem Allgemeinen zu denken."
(Judgment of all is the ability to think the particular as contained under the universal.)
Kant, Kritik der Urteilskraft
The rise and fall of"Werturteil" / "Value Judgment"
5
You don't see it, but medical imaging technolgy heavily relies on value jugements. The bad thing: most of it
comes as a black box.
6
The classification algorithm you chose effects your results. There is no true of false. Just the costs of
missclassification.
7
8
We have to make a decision for:
- the method- which algorithm?
- boundary conditions- which parameters?
- dealing with errors- which risk funktion?
9
Property P object does not carry P object carries P
P was not observed TRUE false negative
P was observed false positive TRUE
10
11
Mistakes like a bounced check or a small overdraft have effectively blacklisted more than a million low-income Americans from the mainstream financial system for as long as seven years as a result of little-known private databases that are used by the nation’s major banks.
Algorithmic filter bubble: personalized search decides what's relevant on your behalf.
12
Targeted Advertising
13
Digital Dualism: there is nothing virtual about data.
14
15
Technology like our smartphones are like a telescope that makes the data floating around us visible.So we have our world augmented rather than virtualized.
Cyborg Rights
16
Becoming cyborgs.
Developers:• keep as many options open as possible• give others a chance in changing the pre-sets
Educational systems:• teach people to hack, to become curious about
seeing behind things.
Legislative bodies:• make hacking things legal. Only what gets
hacked, gets tested.
17
18
19
Let us have sovereignty overthe things we have to deal with,
let us shape our surroundings according to our ethics.
Joerg Blumtritt@jbenno
Datarella GmbHOskar-von-Miller-Ring 36
80333 München
089/44 23 69 [email protected]