This WP engages with the perspectives held by the multiple stakeholders relevant to algorithm-mediated interactions and ‘algorithm biases’. In this complex environment there are many stakeholders in addition to users themselves. These include organisations such as online platforms and other agencies, privacy organisations and internet interest groups. As young ‘digital natives’ can be considered a vulnerable group, educators such as teachers and other safety groups are also key stakeholders. It is vital to identify and incorporate the experiences and perspectives of these groups in order to support the development of fair practices.

We will begin in year 1 by identifying and engaging with relevant stakeholders and will be able to draw on our existing networks developed as part of the ‘Digital Wildfire’, ‘SmartSociety’ and ‘iRights’ projects. We will then run stakeholder focus groups to identify relevant concerns and workshops on the critical evaluation of algorithms. The outcomes of these activities will contribute to the development of the scenarios used in WP 1 and WP 3, and the software tools development of WP 2. In addition, we will draw on Responsible Research and Innovation approaches to map the varying perspectives and experiences of these different stakeholders and identify opportunities for good practice.

In year 2 we will conduct workshops to promote opportunities for ‘fair’ algorithms and practices to these stakeholder audiences. Engaging with a broad range of stakeholders and incorporating their perspectives will strengthen the overall project findings and maximise their capacity to produce an impact in the digital economy. As such, the results of these workshops will also contribute to the final design of the tools suite (WP 2), youth workshops (WP 1) and policy recommendations. In addition these workshops will also lead to the production of a ‘fairness toolkit’ which will be co-developed with stakeholders. The toolkit will include a series of (digital and material) resources that will enable stakeholders to reflect on issues of fairness in the use of information control algorithms. This toolkit will be made widely available to relevant groups and will help to ensure that the project continues to have impact after September 2018.

In addition to delivering core stakeholder perspective and material for use in WP 1, WP 3 and the IT design in WP 2, the key outputs of this WP will be:

1. Policy recommendations on multi-stakeholder engagement for enhanced transparency and global fairness of information control algorithms.
2. ‘Fairness toolkit’ consisting of three co-designed tools i) a consciousness raising tool for young internet users to help them understand online environments; ii) an empowerment tool to help users navigate through online environments; iii) an empathy tool for online providers and other stakeholders to help them understand the concerns and rights of young internet users.

Academic and policy publications on stakeholder perspectives relating to information control algorithms.