To Build Transparent Algorithms, Focus on the Why
In this episode of the Voices of Open Government podcast, learn what France has done to increase algorithmic transparency using citizen input while raising awareness about the use of algorithms.
Policy Brief – Bolstering Online Political Advertising Policy in Europe
This policy brief lays out the key issues to address for regulating online political advertising in Europe and proposes ideas for how to address them through policy action grounded by open government, fundamental rights, and democratic values.
Digital Governance Fact Sheet
A look at global progress and member-level examples of digital governance work in OGP
Digital tools and social media have empowered people through widespread access to information and global connections. Citizens are using technology to hold governments to account and to exercise their civic rights. Governments are using technology to be more transparent, accountable and inclusive. They are also innovating solutions to pressing issues, including delivering services better, establishing cutting edge systems of procurement, advancing fiscal openness and fighting fraud and abuse.
Yet, the same technologies can represent real risks to democracies. Unaccountable institutions are leveraging technology to pursue their own interests in and across markets with little to no – or conflicting – jurisdiction and accountability. And public institutions are dealing with the unintended consequences of fast-moving technologies that often outpace legal safeguards and government oversight.
As part of the 2021 OGP Co-Chair Call-to-Action, this menu of suggested actions highlights ideas for OGP members to advance through their upcoming OGP action plans. The menu features recommendations across areas including inclusive digital transformation and innovation, digital rights and safeguard against misuse of digital technologies.
Updated April 2022
- Make digital citizen engagement inclusive by ensuring that internet access is inclusive and addresses barriers to affordability and accessibility for underrepresented communities and geographically isolated regions. Additionally, understand gender-specific challenges of online engagement by analyzing disaggregated registration data by age, gender, and relevant demographic data, taking into account privacy of individuals, and assessing existing data on online harassment via consultation and research.
- Digital transformation for open government: Use of digital tools for monitoring of public services should be augmented with adequate feedback and redress mechanisms.
- In Kaduna, Nigeria, the government discloses the geo-location of publicly-funded projects and citizens upload photos and feedback on these projects which go directly to the Governor’s office and State Legislature for corrective action.
- In Paraguay and Colombia, the government publishes emergency contracts as open data that civil society monitors, including by tracking price differences for COVID-19 supplies; in Ukraine, the DoZorro platform encourages civil society to monitor the procurement of all the products and services, including those which are COVID-related.
- Open data: Government information should be published in open data formats for increased access, use, and interoperability across various datasets.
- Lithuania launched an open data portal and a new financial portal that includes 12 large-scale financial datasets, for each of its 60 municipalities.
- Paraguay published open data on the quality of health services to grant citizens the information needed to participate in shaping health resource allocation and policy.
- The EU launched Kohesio: a linked open data platform allowing users to discover over 1.5 million EU-funded regional projects and reuse the information.
- Implement appropriate data management policies that are aligned with global norms to protect data rights, use, storage, and privacy.
- The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Council of Europe’s Convention 108+ have updated guidelines on data protection, and several OGP members are working to harmonize data privacy laws across all levels of government, including developing data protection legal frameworks that take into account specific conditions for data processing and disclosure of personal data.
- Australia committed to increasing data access and use within government, while improving data privacy and security with strengthened safeguards.
- Create policies that increase transparency, openness, and oversight on the use of automated decision-making systems in the public sector.
- France committed to publishing public algorithms to improve the transparency of source codes and is working within its government to develop a shared methodology for more open information systems.
- Canada developed a government directive “to set rules on how departments can use AI ethically to make decisions.”
- New Zealand created an algorithms charter on operational algorithms that will result in, or inform, decisions directly impacting individuals or groups. This will allow citizens to understand how their personal data is used by the government.
- Develop regulations and guidelines for transparency and accountability for use of online political advertising, and establish avenues for oversight agencies such as courts and regulatory agencies to identify what constitutes acceptable political advertisements.
-
- The EU Code of Practice on Disinformation was a voluntary initiative that introduced commitments from transparency in political advertising to the closure of fake accounts and those that spread misinformation. The European Democracy Action Plan and the Digital Services Act also propose new legislative frameworks to address these issues.
- In its latest action plan for 2020-2022, Netherlands will introduce binding rules to enhance transparency of funding political parties and make digital political campaigns and advertisements more transparent.
- Introduce policies to tackle disinformation and misuse of social media platforms and implement government programs that build capacities of citizens to increase media literacy.
- The European Digital Media Observatory was established as a hub for relevant stakeholders to conduct fact-checking activities and coordinate research on disinformation at the European level. It will also build a public portal to increase awareness of online disinformation.
- Finland developed a media literacy module that helps school-age individuals distinguish fake news.
- Create policies to limit abusive surveillance and safeguard against censorship and arbitrary shutdowns. With regard to internet censorship, governments must ensure that content-based restrictions meet international standards for civic rights.
- Mexico established a group of experts from a variety of sectors and government agencies to analyze and modify regulations on the use of surveillance in private communications. All changes will be made in accordance with existing national and international human rights standards.
- Ensure new policies safeguard fundamental rights and protect civic space. As democratic processes proliferate online, during and between elections, new policies and policy frameworks are needed in order to recalibrate safeguards and protections for fundamental freedoms.
- To ensure rights are guaranteed and not left to private interest actors like tech companies or law enforcement agencies to decide, new policies should spell out and designate decisions impacting rights and civic space to courts and appropriate independent authorities. Avenues for effective monitoring, remedy, and redress should be in place and accessible.
- Establish platform procedures to prevent and address online harassment. Platforms should work with governments, independent experts and civil society to identify and flag harmful content; ensure regular disclosure of remediation actions taken, including on data privacy; enhance law enforcement agencies’ awareness of the issue; and ensure laws appropriately deal with online gender-based violence and antisocial behavior, including online harassment, abuse, impersonation, catfishing, doxxing, revenge porn, and violence.
-
- Online harassment, including abusive language and cyberbullying, can further amplify exclusion when individuals also “experience attacks based on their identity such as gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity” according to the Web Foundation.
- Build on existing gender-based violence and open data commitments like Uruguay’s interventions to create safer spaces for participation online, including codes of conduct, disaggregated user data, active moderation and reporting mechanisms, and introducing or amending laws that govern gender-based violence to include online harassment, abuse, or violence.
-
Find more recommendations of actions for transparent and accountable digital governance here.
Partners
- Access Now
- Ada Lovelace Institute
- AI Now Institute
- Article 19
- The B Team
- Center for Democracy and Technology
- CIVICUS
- European Partnership for Democracy
- The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)
- Luminate
- Open Data Charter
- Oxfam International
- The Web Foundation
- Programme D’appui Aux Gouvernements Ouverts Francophones (PAGOF)
Open Algorithms Network
OGP convenes an informal network of implementing governments, mobilizing a cross-country coalition of those working on algorithmic accountability.
Resources
-
Policy Brief – Bolstering Online Political Advertising Policy in Europe
This policy brief lays out the key issues to address for regulating online political advertising in Europe and proposes ideas…
2022, Guidance Document, Web Page
-
Algorithmic impact assessment: a case study in healthcare
Read Ada Lovelace Institute's algorithmic impact assessment for the NHS AI Lab. By trialling the process, the NHS is set…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Digital Governance Fact Sheet
A look at global progress and member-level examples of digital governance work in OGP
2021, Document, PDF
-
Algorithm Accountability: What Government Can Do Right Now
In France, the Digital Republic Law requires that all algorithms used by the government be made open and accessible to…
2021, Perspective, Web Page
-
Algorithmic Accountability for the Public Sector
The Ada Lovelace Institute, AI Now Institute, and OGP have partnered to launch the first global study to analyze the…
2021, Research Product, Web Page
-
Automated Decision-Making Systems in the Public Sector – An Impact Assessment Tool for Public Authorities
AlgorithmWatch and AlgorithmWatch Switzerland asked "How can we ensure a trustworthy use of automated decision-making systems (ADMS) in the public…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Actions for Transparent and Accountable Digital Governance
Innovation and the use of digital technologies have always been an integral part of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in…
2021, , Web Page
-
Open Response + Open Recovery: Open Government and Digital Governance in the Time of COVID-19
Experts from the World Wide Web Foundation, the Governments of France and Taiwan, Luminate, and Article 19 led a cross-sector…
2020, , Web Page
-
Digital Governance – What Role Could OGP Play?
2020, Research Product, Web Page
-
A Contract for the Web
By committing to this contract outlined by The Web Foundation, governments, companies and citizens around the world can help protect…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility": Keeping Public Sector Algorithms Accountable
In this paper, Etalab, the French government’s task force for open data and data policy, explains how they're working with…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
New recommendations to improve gender equality in digital professions and eliminate stereotypes in AI applications
UNESCO publication locates this prejudice in the gender imbalance of technical teams leading the development of frontier technologies and identifies…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Global Report
The promise of democracy is often defined by the ballot box, where citizens determine who will represent their interests in…
2019, , Web Page
-
Strengthening Democracy and Protecting Civic Rights in the Digital Era
For government to be responsive, and inclusive, a robust enabling environment that protects fundamental rights and democratic institutions is critical.
2019, , Web Page
-
Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence
Explore the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI that put forward 7 key requirements that AI systems should meet in order…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
It's Time for a Bill of Data Rights
Luminate's Martin Tisné argues that "data ownership" is flawed and instead, we need a framework that gives people rights to…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
This Access Now study scopes the potential range of human rights issues that may be raised as artificial intelligence and…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Mapping Regulatory Proposal for Artificial Intelligence in Europe
A bird's eye survey from Access Now on the major regulatory initiatives in artificial intelligence and the European Union and…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Algorithmic Accountability Policy Toolkit
AI Now Institute offers a toolkit for legal and policy advocates that provides a basic understanding of government use of…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
Artificial Intelligence: open questions about gender inclusion
Artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping gender relations, creating new challenges and opportunities for women. For their personal development and professional…
, Outbound Link, Web Page
-
The Right Tools for the Right Job: How OGP can help win the fight for civic space
This paper is an OGP Support Unit/Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) collaboration authored by Tonusree Basu, OGP Thematic Partnerships Manager, and Denisse…
2018, Research Product, Web Page
-
The Guide to Opening Government: An Enabling Environment for Civil Society Organizations
A guide on commitments to improve the enabling environment for civil society organizations, published by the International Center for Not-For-Profit…
2018, Resource, Web Page
-
Open Algorithms Blog Series
n/a, Post, Web Page
Recent Content
Supporting Local Initiatives to Deliver Better Service
Read how the 2021 OGP Local Accelerator Awards, supported civil society organizations and local governments in collaboration to carry out reforms and deliver public services.
Three Recommendations for More Inclusive and Equitable AI in the Public Sector
Tres recomendaciones para el uso más incluyente y equitativo de la inteligencia artificial en el sector público
See how OGP members are working to better understand and address the gender-differentiated impacts of algorithms, reduce human biases, and create artificial intelligence programs that are trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive.
En todo el mundo, las instituciones del sector público están explorando cada vez más el uso de algoritmos con el fin de mejorar el diseño de políticas públicas y la toma de decisiones con base en datos. Estos sistemas tienen…
What’s in the 2021 National Action Plans
Explore findings from the 23 action plans submitted by OGP member countries during the 2021 submission period.
The Skeptic’s Guide to Open Government – 2022 Edition
Evidence continues to show that open government affects people’s lives. But there are still skeptics who are not aware of all the benefits associated with this approach. Use this guide to convince them to take an open government approach when implementing reforms.
To Build Transparent Algorithms, Focus on the Why
In this episode of the Voices of Open Government podcast, learn what France has done to increase algorithmic transparency using citizen input while raising awareness about the use of algorithms.
English
French
Spanish