---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Mar 25, 2017 at 8:00 AM Subject: Why so-called objective and unbiased algorithms might be actually racist To: Michel Bauwens <[email protected]> [image: piqd] <http://www.piqd.com/> News from your channels Technology and society <https://www.piqd.com/technology-politics> [image: Magda Skrzypek] <https://www.piqd.com/users/magda.skrzypek> piqer: <https://www.piqd.com/users/magda.skrzypek> Magda Skrzypek <https://www.piqd.com/users/magda.skrzypek> 5 <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&ref=dailydigest&source=DailyDigestEmail&utm_campaign=viewpiq&utm_content=2017-03-25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dailydigest> <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&ref=dailydigest&source=DailyDigestEmail&utm_campaign=viewpiq&utm_content=2017-03-25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dailydigest> Why so-called objective and unbiased algorithms might be actually racist <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&ref=dailydigest&source=DailyDigestEmail&utm_campaign=viewpiq&utm_content=2017-03-25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dailydigest> In nineteenth century, a Viennese physician Franz Joseph Galland and his theories gave foundation to *phrenology*, a defunct field of study, once considered a science, in which conformation of the skull was believed to be indicative of mental faculties and personality, and was used, for example, to justify slavery (remember Django Unchained <https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2013/feb/05/django-unchained-racist-science-phrenology> ?). Now, according to Vocativ, we're faced with a "*computer-aided rehash of phrenology, with computer vision and learning algorithms standing in for cranial measurement tools.*" Existing face recognition programs and their algorithms can predict whether someone is a “pedophile”, a “terrorist”, or how likely they are to commit a crime. All this based merely on their facial features. As a result, as Vocativ points out, "*those who are already disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system (...) are again disproportionately branded by the algorithm*". In other words, "*rather than removing human biases, the algorithm creates a feedback loop that reflects and amplifies them*." Authorities see machine learning systems as useful tools for maintaining homeland security, steadily increasing <https://www.biometricupdate.com/201611/dhs-seeking-to-install-more-facial-recognition-system-in-airports> the use of the facial recognition systems. But the algorithms can also be dangerous. It particular they can be "*the perfect weapon for authoritarian leaders because it lets them efficiently and opaquely enforce systems that are already biased against oppositional and marginalized groups*". Comprehensive, yet easy-to-read article investigates human impacts of big data and seeks ways to make the algorithms more ethical. It's not just my recommendation - Vocative journalists use data-mining technology to find story leads and angles, so let's assume they know what they're doing. <https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.piqd.com%2Ftechnology-politics%2Fwhy-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dnewsletter_sharing> <https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Why%20so-called%20objective%20and%20unbiased%20algorithms%20might%20be%20actually%20racist%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.piqd.com%2Ftechnology-politics%2Fwhy-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist%3Futm_source%3DTwitter%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dnewsletter_sharing%20via%20%40piqd_com> [image:
Read this article on piqd.com] <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&ref=dailydigest&source=DailyDigestEmail&utm_campaign=viewpiq&utm_content=2017-03-25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dailydigest> [image: Why so-called objective and unbiased algorithms might be actually racist] <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist/original?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&source=DailyDigestEmail> Source: Joshua Kopstein vocativ.com <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist/original?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&source=DailyDigestEmail> Image: R. A. Di Ieso 03/23/2017 How AI Can Aid Authoritarians-And How Humans Fight Back <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist/original?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&source=DailyDigestEmail> Read article <https://www.piqd.com/tracking/technology-politics/why-so-called-objective-and-unbiased-algorithms-might-be-actually-racist/original?cid=627eed218b467b80645dd5ce5b66b877&source=DailyDigestEmail> [image: Piqd email border 85e01894c7d51551c169e0286d31b6d1f51f3a1667cae0eab3a54c596edcd2f3]
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