Event: The Ethics of Algorithms, March 9-10, Berlin

Event: The Ethics of Algorithms, March 9-10, Berlin

Algorithms, or computational systems that make decisions, are rapidly spreading to different areas of society. Algorithms are used to decide who should be hired and flagged as a terrorism suspect; which news gets highlighted and which stories disappear from social media feeds.

As a result, the subjective decisions by institutions and companies who design computer algorithms to process information, may directly interfere with freedom of speech. Ensuring that such algorithms are in line with human rights standards will be a challenge for governments and companies in the coming years.

This is why at the beginning of March, the CIHR will bring together leading experts from academia, technology and civil society to discuss the ethical dimensions of algorithms. The event will be hosted by the Technical University of Berlin.

The event is organised with the support of supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of a wider policy effort to promote human rights online. Discussions in Berlin will feed into the discussions at the Global Conference on Cyberspace, which will take place in the Hague on 16 and 17 April 2015. More information about GCCS2015 here.

March 9

On the first day, we will discuss algorithms in the context of social media, terrorism and freedom of expression. Extremists of all kinds are increasingly using social media to recruit and raise funds. January’s attacks in Paris, have spurred a widespread debate over how to identify terrorists and prevent radicalization on social networks But what are the possible effects on freedom of expression?

Confirmed speakers:

  • Richard Allan, Facebook
  • Ahmed Ghappour, UC Hastings, College of the Law
  • Jillian York, Electronic Frontier Foundation
  • Frank LaRue, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression (2008-14)
  • Mohamad Najem Social Media Exchange (SMEX)
  • Kate Coyer, Central European University
  • Emily Goldberg Knox, UC Hastings

Agenda available here.

March 10

On March 10, we will grapple with the power and role of algorithms in society. What ethical challenges do we face now and in the future?  Should governments regulate algorithms? Should algorithms be transparent or a black box? How will algorithms change the social sciences? And what are the ethical dilemmas of designing self-driving cars?

Confirmed speakers:

  • Zeynep Tufekci, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Robindra Prabhu, Norwegian Board of Technology
  • Fieke Jansen, Tactical Tech
  • Renata Avila,  World Wide Web Foundation
  • Leon Hempel Technical University of Berlin
  • Kave Salamatian, Université de Savoie
  • Frank Pasquale, University of Maryland.

Agenda available here.

Chatham House Rule
This event is held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.