## Data Ethics Club meeting 20-01-21, [13:00-14:00 GMT](https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Data+Ethics+Club&iso=20210120T13&p1=%3A&ah=1)
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Repeat meeting link is currently: https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/99654848727?pwd=dzUvQUErTGREYUNzb3ExMnJON3pDUT09

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### Quick links

**Zoom link:** https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/99654848727?pwd=dzUvQUErTGREYUNzb3ExMnJON3pDUT09

**Links to content:**
- [The executive summary (that we're reading)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cdei-publishes-review-into-bias-in-algorithmic-decision-making/main-report-cdei-review-into-bias-in-algorithmic-decision-making)
- And (for the brave) [the full (very long!) report](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/939109/CDEI_review_into_bias_in_algorithmic_decision-making.pdf)

### Description
You're welcome to join us for our next Data Ethics Club meeting on Wednesday the 20th January at [13:00-14:00 GMT](https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Data+Ethics+Club&iso=20210120T13&p1=%3A&ah=1). You don't need to register, just drop in. This time we're going to watch/read the [Executive Summary of the Review into bias in algorithmic decision making](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cdei-publishes-review-into-bias-in-algorithmic-decision-making/main-report-cdei-review-into-bias-in-algorithmic-decision-making#executive-summary) by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which is a recently published (end of November 2020) government report. 

Natalie suggested this week's content, and will be leading this week's meeting.

### Discussion points

There will be time to talk about whatever we like (relating to the content), but here are some specific questions to think about while you're reading.
- Were you surprised by any of the examples of algorithmic decision making currently in use?
- Which of the CDEI's recommendations do you agree/disagree with?
- Are there any recommendations that you think are missing?

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## Meeting notes

### What did we think?
A summary of the discussion was that: 
- The report didn't shy away from the potential harms which was good. 
- There is a sense of the tracks being laid in front of the train in terms of regulation. One group felt there is a need for more guidance for private companies, but who is responsible for implementing that? 
- Also, how do you regulate algorithms? One rule will not fit all, and it will be a difficult field to manage in this sense. 
- It's likely that there aren't enough people who understand enough about algorithms to assess whether they are a good idea for their use case. There are also times where algorithms are sold for a use case that should not be using algorithms at all. Pressures on funding, particuarly in local gov and police, make these seem more tempting though. 
- How can we centre the data subject? Do they know what their data are being used for, and the impacts of it? 
- Recommendations to collect more info about protected characteristics were open to question - who will volunteer this data, and will this serve the people who it needs to (who may be especially unlikely to provide this data in the first place).