AlgorithmWatch is the leading civil society organisation in the field of social impact of automated decision-making (ADM) and AI-based systems.
Their is to protect peoples’ rights and strengthen the common good in the face of increased use of algorithmic systems. They do this by analysing effects of ADM / AI-based processes on human behaviour, pointing out ethical conflicts and explaining the characteristics and effects of these complex processes to a general public.
To maximise the benefits of ADM / AI for society, AlgorithmWatch builds coalitions with different communities and disciplines, as well as co-develops ideas and strategies to achieve the responsible and benevolent use of ADM / AI-based systems – with a mix of technologies, regulation, and suitable oversight institutions.
This grant supported AlgorithmWatch to advocate for effective enforcement structures of the AI Act, and devise and test strategies to enforce the rules on the books, namely the Digital Services Act (DSA). They investigated the systemic risks platforms pose to society, using data access requests and other means afforded by the law. In addition, AlgorithmWatch increased journalistic and communications activities to question the AI hype, by investigating and reporting the real-life consequences of the use of automated and AI-based systems.
The grant enabled AlgorithmWatch to establish and deepen relations with civil society, politicians and high-level administration officials. In their advocacy efforts, they pushed for a EU-wide ban on biometric recognition technology that enables mass surveillance, and were successful in achieving many safeguards for people’s rights in the European AI Act.
AlgorithmWatch’s Tracing the Tracers project created a digital platform to continuously monitor and analyse automated decision-making (ADM) systems used in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe and beyond. They highlighted the multitude of devices, tools and solutions tested and adopted despite an absence of evidence of their effectiveness, and often with insufficient democratic debate.
