Tag Archives: Workshop

Publication of 1st WP4 workshop report

We are please to announce that the report summarizing the outcomes of the first UnBias project stakeholder engagement workshop is now available for public dissemination.

The workshop took place on February 3rd 2017 at the Digital Catapult centre in London, UK. It brought together participants from academia, education, NGOs and enterprises to discuss fairness in relation to algorithmic practice and design. At the heart of the discussion were four case studies highlighting fake news, personalisation, gaming the system, and transparency.

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Algorithm Workshop, University of Strathclyde. February 2017

What are algorithms and how are they designed? Why are they used in commercial practice and what kinds of benefits can they bring? What are the potential harmful impacts of using algorithms and how can they be prevented?

On Wednesday 15th February 2017 some UnBias consortium members had the pleasure of attending an Algorithm Workshop hosted by the Law School, University of Strathclyde. During the workshop, we had the opportunity to consider, discuss and begin to address key issues and concerns surrounding the contemporary prevalence of algorithms. The workshop was also attended by students from the host University and an interdisciplinary group of experts from areas including Law, Computer Science and the Social Sciences. This mix of expertise made for a really great afternoon of talks and discussions surrounding the design, development and use of algorithms through various disciplinary perspectives.

Continue reading Algorithm Workshop, University of Strathclyde. February 2017

University of Strathclyde – Algorithms Workshop

Algorithm Workshop 15 February 2017

1230 hours Coffee, tea and biscuits

INTRODUCTIONS: POLICY, LAW, TECHNOLOGY

1300 hours Introduction to algorithms and their place in governance – Michael Veale, UCL

1330 hours Law and algorithmic governance—some war stories and some solutions? – Lilian Edwards, University of Strathclyde

1410 hours Algorithms—a technical perspective—are they really a black box? – Ansgar Koene, Unbias

1440 hours Questions

1450 hours Coffee

TYPES OF ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE AND POSSIBLE REMEDIES

1505 hours Algorithms, media governance and political disinformation – Lorna Woods, Essex; Rachel Craufurd –Smith, Edinburgh

1535 hours Algorithmic pricing and employment discrimination – Freddie Brogesius, IViR (NL) John Gannon, Leeds

1610hours Algorithms and search engines – Thomas Hoeppner, Berlin

1630hours Questions

1640 hours Panel—Conclusions and next steps

1715 hours Dinner

Responsible Governance for Healthy and Sustainable Smart Platforms: Policy directions for the collaborative economy

Smart online platforms will be a vital enabler of future economic growth across the EU and a key component of  the EU single digital market. They also promise new ways to pool and mobilise society’s resources with the potential to address various impending social and environmental crises.

However, to reap these benefits, new thinking is required around the regulation and governance of smart online platforms to ensure balanced interests, and to promote fair and safe forms of participation, particularly relating to the role played by algorithms and data in driving economies of scale.

This policy event will provide a forum to address the following questions:

  • What are the challenges and opportunities for public policy of Smart Online Platforms?
  • How can we leverage platforms for a more equal, just, and knowledgeable society?
  • How can platforms play a role in reducing the social divide and retain hard-won rights and protections?
  • What  are the challenges and opportunities for existing industries from their disruptive business models?
  • How should the regulatory environment change and what new regulatory institutions or instruments may be needed?
  • How can these technologies support public objectives and help policy makers deliver solutions at greater scale and of greater impact?

This event is being organised by the Smart Society EU FET project which has been exploring technologies and governance models for the next generation of Smart Platforms. The event will include the launch of the Smart Society Social Charter, and high-profile keynote talks.

Preliminary Agenda

 9.30 - 10.00 Registration

10.00 - 10.45 Keynote:The landscape of the collaborative economy, Helen Goulden (Nesta)

10.45 - 11.30 Keynote: Responsibility in Collaborative Economies (TBC)

11.30 - 12.00 Coffee

12.00 - 13.00 A Social Charter for Smart Platforms

13.00 - 13.30 Questions and Discussion

13.30 - 14.30 Lunch

14.30 - 15.15 Panel Session 

15.15 - 16.00 Closing plenary session