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# IGF 2018 WS #421 Algorithmic transparency and the right to explanation

Format:

Break-out Group Discussions - 60 Min

Theme:

Cybersecurity, Trust and Privacy

Subtheme:

ALGORITHMS

Organizer 1: Alex Comninos, Association for Progressive Communications
Organizer 2: Deborah Brown, Association for Progressive Communications

Speaker 1: Jelena Jovanovic, Technical Community, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Vidushi Marda, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Alex Comninos, Civil Society, African Group

Session Content:

I - Introduction to the issues by the speakers (25 minutes) The speakers will in twenty minutes (five minutes per speaker) introduce the problems posed from a human rights perspective of automated or algorithmic decision-making. Algorithmic justice, algorithmic bias, and algorithmic transparency shall be introduced as concepts.The technical, legal and human rights issues will also be posed. 2 - Break out group discussions I [25 minutes] Groups will ask how algorithms affect their lives and identify problems that algorithms could cause for them. 15 minutes Groups will report back 10 minutes 3- Break out Group Discussion II [25 minutes] Groups will discuss technical and policy solutions to ensuring algorithms can provide a right to explanation. 15 minutes Groups will report back 10 minutes 4. Panel discussion of Group's responses 10 minutes The speakers will respond to the report backs and issues raised by the groups. 5. Questions from audience to panelists 15 minutes

Interventions:

- Alex Comninos and Deborah brown (APC) will be moderators - Jelena Jovanovic (cyber security professional) will provide an overview of the concepts of algorithmic transparency, algorithmic justice, algorithmic bias and real life examples of the effects of algorithms from an information security perspective. - Vidushi Marda (Article 19) will provide an overview of the human rights aspects of automated decision making. She will focus on the GDPR Article 22 and the EU guidelines on Automated decision-making. She will provide a policy and human rights perspective.

Diversity:

Alex Comninos, Civil Society, Male, Africa Group

Deborah Brown, Civil Society, Female, Western Europe and others Group

Jelena Jovanovic, Technical Community, Female, Eastern European Group

Vidushi Marda, Civil Society, Female, Asia-Pacific Group

Lorena Jaume-Palasi: Civil Society, Female, Western Europe and others Group

Joy Liddicoat: Academia, Female, Western Europe and others Group

Karen Reilly: Technical Community, Female, Western Europe and others Group

Chinmayi Arun, Academia, Female, Asia-Pacific Group

Malavika Jayaram, Civil Society, Female, Asia-Pacific Group

Online Participation:

All breakaway groups will have to chat and come up with an output for presentation, whether online or offline. Online participation will be done via breakaway groups on the collaborative online notepad etherpad - which would allow the participants to chat as well as to come up with a document for presentation at the feedback sessions The online participation will be advertised through Twitter and the RP platforms. Online participation can be done in groups that have IGF "real life participants too" will be encouraged to use etherpad to develop and report on their discussions. An ideal online participation outcome would involve the on-site and offline participants both working on the same etherpads, thus building bridges with RP.

Discussion Facilitation:

The speakers each introduce briefly their own concerns and interventions regarding AI

Groups will ask how algorithms affect their lives and identify problems that algorithms could cause. The groups will be broken up thematically.

One person shall report back from each group

Group discussion shall feed into a final outcome document.

For more info on group discussion, see the agenda.

Onsite Moderator:

[email protected]

Online Moderator:

[email protected]

Rapporteur:

Association for Progressive Communications

Agenda:

Part 1: Lightning talks - 25 minutes
- Each speaker gives a "lighting talk" of max 2 minutes on their specific area of intervention/expertise.

Part 2: Breakaway group discussion - 20 Minutes
- Breakaway groups discussing different aspects of algorithmic transparency
- The remote participants will organise an internet breakaway group
- Someone from each group volunteers to rapporteur

Part 3: Report back from breakaway group discussions - 10 Mintes
- Rapporteurs report back and display their flip charts
- Remote participants, the internet reports back
- Some panelists take notes and document in order to create an outcome document for the event.

Part 4: Questions - 5 - 10 minutes

Wrap up with questions and interventions from audience and remote participants.

Session Time:
Monday, 12 November, 2018 - 11:20 to 12:20
Room:
Salle IX

## Archived Content

- 2017 IGF: Geneva
- 2016 IGF: Jalisco
- 2015 IGF: João Pessoa
- 2014 IGF: Istanbul
- 2013 IGF: Bali
- 2012 IGF: Baku
- 2011 IGF: Nairobi
- 2010 IGF: Vilnius
- 2009 IGF: Sharm El Sheikh
- 2008 IGF: Hyderabad
- 2007 IGF: Rio de Janeiro
- 2006 IGF: Athens

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## Additional Information

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## Contact Information

United Nations
Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Villa Le Bocage
Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

igf [at] un [dot] org
+41 (0) 229 173 678