Algorithmic Accountability and Public Reason

• Published in: Philosophy & technology Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 543 - 556
• Main Author: Binns, Reuben
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accountability; Algorithms; Analysis; Corporate social responsibility; Decision making; Decision support systems; Education; Ethical aspects; Induction algorithms; Philosophy; Philosophy of Technology; Political philosophy; Research Article; Technology application; Public reason; Algorithmic accountability; Discrimination
• ISSN: 2210-5433; 2210-5441; 2210-5441
• DOI: 10.1007/s13347-017-0263-5

The ever-increasing application of algorithms to decision-making in a range of social contexts has prompted demands for algorithmic accountability. Accountable decision-makers must provide their decision-subjects with justifications for their automated system’s outputs, but what kinds of broader principles should we expect such justifications to appeal to? Drawing from political philosophy, I present an account of algorithmic accountability in terms of the democratic ideal of ‘public reason’. I argue that situating demands for algorithmic accountability within this justificatory framework enables us to better articulate their purpose and assess the adequacy of efforts toward them.