A deeper look into facial recognition
We humans are incredibly good at facial recognition: normally, we are able to tell whether we know someone by looking at their face for less than half a second, and we can recognize people’s faces even when we can’t remember other details about that person, like their name or their job.
Chinook: an algorithm to help migration officers in Canada decide who to let in
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, started on 24 February 2022, has provoked one of the single greatest refugee crisis of recent times. By 24 April 2022, there were more than 5.2 million refugees who had fled the war in Ukraine, according to data compiled by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Do you know how much a migration algorithm influences this?
European Commission must uphold privacy, security and free expression
In May, the European Commission proposed a new law: the CSA Regulation. If passed, this law would turn the internet into a space that is dangerous for everyone’s privacy, security and free expression. Today, 8 June, we join this initiative led by EDRi alongside other 73 organisations in calling instead for tailored, effective, rights-compliant and technically-feasible alternatives to tackle this grave issue through an Open Letter.
FemTech: My body, my data, their rules
Menstruation, despite having existed since the dawn of humanity and affecting half of the world’s population, remains largely unknown in many aspects. Paradoxically, however, for years, control over the menstrual cycle has been a lucrative source of income in different sectors.
Learning by Exposing BadData
Thanks to artificial intelligence, algorithms can be trained by and learn from data. But what an algorithm does depends a lot on how good the data is. Data could be corrupted, out of date, useless or illegal. In this way, bad data plays an important part of all kinds of decision-making processes and outcomes.
Is AI for or against LGBTQ+ community?
In 2011, an Android app had a test of twenty stereotyped questions through which parents could reportedly find out the sexual orientation of their children.
Location data is personal data, isn’t it?
A few days ago, the European privacy group NOYB (None of your business) filed an appeal against a decision of the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD) regarding the phone provider Virgin Telco refusal to provide the location data it has stored about a customer after this person asked for it in December 2021. Now the case is in the hands of the Audiencia Nacional (Spain’s national court).
Why and how media curation by algorithm contributes
These days, many of us get informed about what’s going on in the world, in our countries and even around us in our towns by reading, watching or listening to online media: from online newspapers, to online video, to online radio and podcasts.
Tips to understand how AI impacts young people
Alpha and Z generations have been born with AI as one of the tools that is present in their daily lives. They can be called AI natives, as they have never been in a world without it. But, even if AI has many positive uses, such as personalized educational trajectories, there are threats for these generations when it comes to technology. Are we educating young people and even their parents to use AI systems (and technology) responsibly?
Indiana welfare eligibility processes for welfare, food stamps
The 2006 Indiana welfare eligibility modernization experiment was fairly straightforward: the welfare-benefits system would transition to serving applicants through an online platform. Applications, income-levels, and personal information would all be processed remotely (Eubanks 2018).