Advancing Ideals Shouldn't Equate to Anti-Automation Stance
In the realm of social justice, it's crucial to continue shedding light on instances where algorithms reflect societal biases. Progressive politicians should be mindful of this, as recent findings suggest that algorithms can indeed exhibit human bias.
One such example is the case of Ally Financial, a financial services company, which charged African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander borrowers between $200 and $300 more for car loans than white borrowers. This discrimination occurred not because of the company's policies, but because car dealership workers offered minority customers interest rates higher than the rate recommended by Ally Financial's algorithm. Had car dealerships been prevented from marking up the algorithmically-generated interest rates, hundreds of thousands of minority borrowers would not have been exploited because of their race.
Contrary to the approach that considers algorithms as inherently riskier to social justice than human decisions, progressives should recognise the potential of algorithms to reduce biases. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that Ally Financial was engaging in loan discrimination in 2013. However, instead of shunning algorithms, the solution lies in creating better algorithms.
This concept is exemplified in California, where a tool called Clear My Record, a nonprofit technology project, has been instrumental in clearing the criminal records of tens of thousands convicted of cannabis-related offenses. Clear My Record allows attorneys to identify and proactively clear the records of eligible criminal records in minutes, increasing social and economic opportunities for thousands of Californians.
Similarly, the use of algorithms is being explored to replace traditional methods of monitoring people on parole, probation, or house arrest. E-identity company OptimumID has piloted its BridgeID software, which uses a smartphone app, facial recognition, and identity verification algorithms, to supplement ankle monitors in Bell County, Texas. Another organisation, Aware, has developed a similar technological solution to replace ankle monitors with virtual check-ins.
It's evident that pursuing the potential of using algorithms to reduce biases is worthy of political capital. By acknowledging the potential of algorithms to reduce biases, progressives can work towards eradicating societal biases more quickly than social justice activism alone. Avoiding algorithms does not reduce biases in human decision-making; rather, it's about creating algorithms that are fair, transparent, and unbiased.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at an event in January 2019, highlighting the potential for algorithms to exhibit human bias. It's time for progressives to embrace this potential and work towards creating a future where algorithms are used to promote justice, equality, and fairness for all.
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