A Global Perspective on Algorithmic Accountability

Today, internet platforms use algorithmic decision-making to shape and curate the online ecosystem, through content moderation, ranking and recommendations systems, and more. These pervasive but invisible systems are powerful and they influence how we see and engage with the world. However, platforms provide little transparency and accountability around how they deploy these tools and what impact they have on user experiences and user speech. In addition, when platforms do engage with stakeholders on issues of algorithmic accountability, their outreach is too narrow, and skews the conversation towards the needs of stakeholders in the Global North. This discussion will bring together audience members from around the world to discuss what algorithmic transparency and accountability means to stakeholders in different regions. The discussion will also explore how we can collaboratively press companies to demonstrate accountability that is valuable for all users, and not just those based in the Global North.