From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance

In this paper, we identify three responses evident in the dialogue regarding the emergence and development of data driven algorithmic governance. The first two responses, ones of access, inclusion and transparency, seek to remedy harms produced by the deployment of advanced digital technologies in p...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alexandra James, Danielle Hynes, Andrew Whelan, Tanja Dreher, Justine Humphry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society 2023-05-01
Series:Internet Policy Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://policyreview.info/node/1691
_version_ 1797822258666799104
author Alexandra James
Danielle Hynes
Andrew Whelan
Tanja Dreher
Justine Humphry
author_facet Alexandra James
Danielle Hynes
Andrew Whelan
Tanja Dreher
Justine Humphry
author_sort Alexandra James
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we identify three responses evident in the dialogue regarding the emergence and development of data driven algorithmic governance. The first two responses, ones of access, inclusion and transparency, seek to remedy harms produced by the deployment of advanced digital technologies in public sector service provision. However, with a limited interest in contextualising these technologies relative to the social relations in which they are designed and deployed, these responses ultimately risk misidentifying the sources of harm, thereby reinforcing injustices. The third response, one of data justice, abolition and refusal, seeks to address the limitations to achieving social justice through prioritising digital access, inclusion and transparency. Offering a more transformative response to algorithmic governance, this third response focuses on fundamental questions regarding the deeply unequal power relations, structural inequalities and racism embedded in algorithmic systems, providing a critical repertoire of options for contesting and reconfiguring these relations. While the three responses do not constitute a chronology, we conclude with a discussion of the resurgent interest in refusal as a framework and method to intervene in harmful data-driven algorithmic systems. In so doing, we offer suggestions for how to collectively and institutionally operationalise refusal, alongside abolitionism and data justice, particularly in the area of social welfare provision, and to imagine and bring about alternative social, political and economic systems and relations that are radically transformative.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T10:05:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5a98dae30df24222a8d733762cd97822
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2197-6775
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T10:05:22Z
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
record_format Article
series Internet Policy Review
spelling doaj.art-5a98dae30df24222a8d733762cd978222023-05-22T15:49:20ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752023-05-01Volume 12Issue 210.14763/2023.2.1691From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governanceAlexandra James0Danielle Hynes1Andrew Whelan2Tanja Dreher3Justine Humphry4La Trobe UniversityUniversity of New South WalesUniversity of WollongongUniversity of New South WalesUniversity of SydneyIn this paper, we identify three responses evident in the dialogue regarding the emergence and development of data driven algorithmic governance. The first two responses, ones of access, inclusion and transparency, seek to remedy harms produced by the deployment of advanced digital technologies in public sector service provision. However, with a limited interest in contextualising these technologies relative to the social relations in which they are designed and deployed, these responses ultimately risk misidentifying the sources of harm, thereby reinforcing injustices. The third response, one of data justice, abolition and refusal, seeks to address the limitations to achieving social justice through prioritising digital access, inclusion and transparency. Offering a more transformative response to algorithmic governance, this third response focuses on fundamental questions regarding the deeply unequal power relations, structural inequalities and racism embedded in algorithmic systems, providing a critical repertoire of options for contesting and reconfiguring these relations. While the three responses do not constitute a chronology, we conclude with a discussion of the resurgent interest in refusal as a framework and method to intervene in harmful data-driven algorithmic systems. In so doing, we offer suggestions for how to collectively and institutionally operationalise refusal, alongside abolitionism and data justice, particularly in the area of social welfare provision, and to imagine and bring about alternative social, political and economic systems and relations that are radically transformative.https://policyreview.info/node/1691Algorithmic governanceData justiceCritical Data StudiesData governanceAlgorithmic accountability
spellingShingle Alexandra James
Danielle Hynes
Andrew Whelan
Tanja Dreher
Justine Humphry
From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
Internet Policy Review
Algorithmic governance
Data justice
Critical Data Studies
Data governance
Algorithmic accountability
title From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
title_full From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
title_fullStr From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
title_full_unstemmed From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
title_short From access and transparency to refusal: Three responses to algorithmic governance
title_sort from access and transparency to refusal three responses to algorithmic governance
topic Algorithmic governance
Data justice
Critical Data Studies
Data governance
Algorithmic accountability
url https://policyreview.info/node/1691
work_keys_str_mv AT alexandrajames fromaccessandtransparencytorefusalthreeresponsestoalgorithmicgovernance
AT daniellehynes fromaccessandtransparencytorefusalthreeresponsestoalgorithmicgovernance
AT andrewwhelan fromaccessandtransparencytorefusalthreeresponsestoalgorithmicgovernance
AT tanjadreher fromaccessandtransparencytorefusalthreeresponsestoalgorithmicgovernance
AT justinehumphry fromaccessandtransparencytorefusalthreeresponsestoalgorithmicgovernance