![Sumana Harihareswara [on Mastodon]](https://identi.ca/uploads/brainwane/2017/6/2/H9wgXw_thumb.jpg)
Sumana Harihareswara [on Mastodon] at
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/nyregion/showing-the-algorithms-behind-new-york-city-services.htm... NYC's considering a first-of-its-kind transparency bill, and I think it's in danger from corporate interests
https://nyc.councilmatic.org/legislation/int-1696-2017/ city agencies using automated processes (algorithms) to decide to benefit/punish you must publish the code
Sometimes these processes are hella biased https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing/ http://bds.org/bds-testifies-before-the-nyc-council-committee-on-technology-on-algorithm-transparenc...
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/testimony-int-1696-relating-disclosure-source-code-agencies-e... https://beta.nyc/2017/10/16/testimony-for-intro-1696-2017-open-algorithms-bill/ https://www.nyclu.org/en/publications/nyclu-testimony-nyc-council-committee-technology-re-automated-... the NYC ACLU, other NGOs, & local technologists are for it
https://civichall.org/civicist/hearing-algorithmic-transparency-reveals-rift-nyc-tech-community/ some of NYC's IT, & a trade group of software companies, are against it. Some companies profit from proprietary data
https://council.nyc.gov/districts/ if you're in NYC, email your councilmember to ask them to cosponsor & support Bill 1696
https://council.nyc.gov/james-vacca/ maybe also email Councilmember Vacca, tell him: keep the bill strong, follow advice from @BetaNYC & @juliapowles
Outside NYC? Your town/region could consider a similar bill. IT procurement & all might sound boring but the impact could be huge
https://nyc.councilmatic.org/legislation/int-1696-2017/ city agencies using automated processes (algorithms) to decide to benefit/punish you must publish the code
Sometimes these processes are hella biased https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing/ http://bds.org/bds-testifies-before-the-nyc-council-committee-on-technology-on-algorithm-transparenc...
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/testimony-int-1696-relating-disclosure-source-code-agencies-e... https://beta.nyc/2017/10/16/testimony-for-intro-1696-2017-open-algorithms-bill/ https://www.nyclu.org/en/publications/nyclu-testimony-nyc-council-committee-technology-re-automated-... the NYC ACLU, other NGOs, & local technologists are for it
https://civichall.org/civicist/hearing-algorithmic-transparency-reveals-rift-nyc-tech-community/ some of NYC's IT, & a trade group of software companies, are against it. Some companies profit from proprietary data
https://council.nyc.gov/districts/ if you're in NYC, email your councilmember to ask them to cosponsor & support Bill 1696
https://council.nyc.gov/james-vacca/ maybe also email Councilmember Vacca, tell him: keep the bill strong, follow advice from @BetaNYC & @juliapowles
Outside NYC? Your town/region could consider a similar bill. IT procurement & all might sound boring but the impact could be huge
Mike Linksvayer likes this.
Mike Linksvayer shared this.
(On reflection, "against it" is too strong. They favor transparency, but want big revisions and sounded lots of concerns.)
Thank you for advocating for and reporting on this!
Sure reads to me like like Tech:NYC is against. Saying they favor transparency is about as empty a statement as they could make, especially when they're pulling out stock terrible arguments against it.