Algorithms and Autonomy
The Ethics of Automated Decision Systems

This book examines how algorithms in criminal justice, education, housing, elections and beyond affect autonomy, freedom, and democracy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Alan Rubel (Author), Clinton Castro (Author), Adam Pham (Author)

9781108841818, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 May 2021

216 pages
15 x 23 x 1.5 cm, 0.45 kg

'In merging perspectives from philosophy, criminal justice, science and technology studies, law, and information science, the authors provide an interdisciplinary perspective to the benefit of scholars considering the legal, philosophical, ethical, social, and human implications of technology. Though the book focuses on the increasing relevance of algorithmic ethics and importance of literacy around public interest technologies for the general public, it will have the greatest appeal among academic audiences. Graduate students would especially benefit from this work … Via a human-centered, morally grounded approach, the authors make a compelling argument that we cannot evaluate the inherent ethics of a particular technology or use as a result of the rapid pace of change. We need to instead engage directly with underlying moral issues.' Madelyn Rose Sanfilippo, Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology

Algorithms influence every facet of modern life: criminal justice, education, housing, entertainment, elections, social media, news feeds, work… the list goes on. Delegating important decisions to machines, however, gives rise to deep moral concerns about responsibility, transparency, freedom, fairness, and democracy. Algorithms and Autonomy connects these concerns to the core human value of autonomy in the contexts of algorithmic teacher evaluation, risk assessment in criminal sentencing, predictive policing, background checks, news feeds, ride-sharing platforms, social media, and election interference. Using these case studies, the authors provide a better understanding of machine fairness and algorithmic transparency. They explain why interventions in algorithmic systems are necessary to ensure that algorithms are not used to control citizens' participation in politics and undercut democracy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Part I. Some Cases, Some Ground Clearing: 1. Introduction
2. Autonomy, Agency and Responsibility
Part II. Respecting Persons, What We Owe Them: 3. What Can Agents Reasonably Endorse?
4. What We Informationally Owe Each Other
Part III. Ensuring the Conditions of Agency: 5. Freedom, Agency, and Information Technology
6. Epistemic Paternalism and Social Media
Part IV. The Responsibilities of Agents: 7. Agency Laundering and Information Technologies
8. Democratic Obligations and Technological Threats to Legitimacy
9. Conclusions and Caveats.

Subject Areas: Algorithms & data structures [UMB], Ethical & social aspects of IT [UBJ], Jurisprudence & philosophy of law [LAB], Ethical issues: scientific & technological developments [JFMG]