Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on August 26, 2020

Its been a seriously rough few weeks for algorithms in the UK.

The problems started on August 7, whenthe British government scrapped analgorithm used in visa applications, following allegations that it was creating speedy boarding for white people.

Weeks later,England joined Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in ditching a model used to calculate school exam resultsafter evidence emerged that it had penalized poorer students.

The algorithms must have thought their month couldnt get any worse. But in the last two days, theyve beenhit with another double dose of bad news.

Yesterday, the Guardian revealed that around 20 councils localgovernment authorities in the UK have stoppedusing an algorithm to detect fraudulent welfare claims.

[Read:Facebook algorithm actively promotes Holocaust denial]

Researchers from the Data Justice Lab (CDJL)found that one algorithm was dumped after falsely flagging low-risk claims as high-risk, while another was dropped because it simply didnt make a difference to the councils work.

The CDJL also discovered that Sunderland council had scrapped a separatealgorithm designed to make efficiency savings, while Hackney had ditched one that identified children at risk of abuse.

Algorithmic and predictive decision systems are leading to a wide range of harms globally, and a number of government bodies across different countries are pausing or canceling their use of these kinds of systems,Dr Joanna Redden from the Data Justice Lab told the Guardian.

She might not have long to wait to add another to the list.

The British government recently introduced anew formula for calculating where new housing is built. But planning consultancy Litchfields today claimed the algorithm would lead to more homesbeing constructed in the countryside and suburbs typically Tory-voting areas and fewer intowns and city centers.

The plans have achieved the rare feat of attracting critics from across the political spectrum.

Conservative MPNeil OBrien warned Tory-voters wouldnt want more housing where they live; Labours Kate Hollern accused the government of leveling-down areas; and the Green Partys Natalie Benett said the plans would step up regional inequality even further, and hack into the greenbelt for the benefit of mass housebuilders.

Whether the housebuilding algorithm joins the ones used for exam results and welfare claims on the shelf. Butit will certainly be under increased scrutiny over the months to come.

So you like our media brand Neural? You should join our Neural event track at TNW2020, where youll hear how artificial intelligenceis transforming industries and businesses.

Published August 25, 2020 18:06 UTC

Read the original:

Will the UKs housebuilding algorithm join the governments growing AI graveyard? - The Next Web

Category: Holocaust Denial
Tags: