Governance by algorithms

Abstract

Algorithms are increasingly often cited as one of the fundamental shaping devices of our daily, immersed-in-information existence. Their importance is acknowledged, their performance scrutinised in numerous contexts. Yet, a lot of what constitutes 'algorithms' beyond their broad definition as "encoded procedures for transforming input data into a desired output, based on specified calculations" (Gillespie, 2013) is often taken for granted. This article seeks to contribute to the discussion about 'what algorithms do' and in which ways they are artefacts of governance, providing two examples drawing from the internet and ICT realm: search engine queries and e-commerce websites' recommendations to customers. The question of the relationship between algorithms and rules is likely to occupy an increasingly central role in the study and the practice of internet governance, in terms of both institutions' regulation of algorithms, and algorithms' regulation of our society.

Thinking critically about and researching algorithms

“…This is the same for systems designed to empower, entertain and enlighten, as they are also predicated on defined rule-sets about how a system behaves at any one time and situation. Algorithms thus claim and express algorithmic authority (Shirky, 2009) or algorithmic governance (Beer, 2009;Musiani, 2013), often through what Dodge and Kitchin (2007) term 'automated management' (decision-making processes that are automated, automatic and autonomous; outside of human oversight). The consequence for Lash (2007) is that society now has a new rule set to live by to complement constitutive and regulative rules: algorithmic, generative rules.…”

What Do Big Data Do in Global Governance?

“…29 This suppresses or regulates certain actors and more generally shapes global publics. 30 Searching, as a practice, increasingly shapes how we experience our world, naturalizing results while concealing the influence of coders on them. 31 The search results it displays appear beside the tailored ads it generates, providing a commercial tone to this public.…”

“…32 Amazon's algorithms that shape reading preferences play a similar role. 33 Reputational ranking systems such as those associated with eBay, 34 hotels.com, or AirBnB combine user responses with algorithmic regulation. 35 The above examples of algorithmic regulation all involve the control of flows of information and suggest more direct automated regulation of physical objects and human bodies, although this is only in the early stages.…”

Tecnologia Blockchain E Governance Decentralizzata: Lo Stato Ancora Necessario?

“…In virtue of their technical skills, code developers, miners, fintech professionals and technopreneurs would easily have a privileged position in society, becoming the new policy makers to detriment of a big mass of computer illiterate or low skilled individuals, reduced to mere passive recipients of services. Elites can assume many forms according to the social and political context, and we are in a phase of human development where the power to develop codes and select algorithms has -and it will increasingly have -major implications in contemporary society: this power entails "assertion of authority" (Musiani, 2013) and it constitutes "politics pursued by other means" (Latour 1988, p. 229;Musiani, 2013), calling into question the egalitarian nature of technology and networks. Regrettably, indeed, open source does not automatically mean neither equal opportunity, nor inclusiveness.…”