Who remembers the Little Britain "Computer Says No" skit?
Today's #dailysignal looks at the story in Wired Magazine that uncovered how governments (in the liberal West, no less) are using algorithms (which look at mass data, not individual circumstances) to redline and greenling citizens - or, more specifically to allocate "credibility scores" that determine or deny access to government services(such as welfare entitlements), based on whether the algorithm deems you likely to cheat (e.g. engage in welfare fraud) or not.
Once again, this reminds me how precinct Cathy O'Neil was in Weapons of Math Destruction, when she warned that in the future, the masses will be processed by machines, and the privileged by [human] people.
What are you thoughts on the trade offs between the greater good and individual rights?
If the algorithm's decision is inarguable, who will stand to benefit and who is most likely to lose?
What opportunities could people and companies who rely on "computer says no/go" decision making miss out on?
Let me know your thoughts…
Read more:
Inside the Dutch Black Box : https://www.wired.com/story/welfare-state-algorithms/
Weapons of Math Destruction : https://whatthefuturenow.com/2018/07/18/weapons-of-math-destruction/
The Future of Us (and you're invited) : https://whatthefuturenow.com/2018/07/18/weapons-of-math-destruction/
Computer says NO :
Greenlining and other such things : https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-03-key-trends-that-will-affect-your-lives-in-2023/
The Truth Machine : https://whatthefuturenow.com/2021/12/01/the-truth-machine/
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