Tomlinson, Joe and Maxwell, Jack (2020) Proving algorithmic discrimination in government decision-making. OXFORD UNIVERSITY COMMONWEALTH LAW JOURNAL. pp. 352-360. ISSN 1472-9342
Abstract
Public bodies in the United Kingdom are increasingly using algorithms and big data to make decisions. While there is growing awareness of the risks of algorithmic discrimination, it can be very difficult to establish that a specific algorithm is in fact discriminatory. This raises the question of how courts should allocate the burden of testing and proving whether a government algorithm is discriminatory, as between the government and the person affected. In R (Bridges) v South Wales Police [2020] EWCA Civ 1058, the England and Wales Court of Appeal found that public bodies must take positive steps to identify and address risks of algorithmic discrimination. This note explores the decision in Bridges and its implications for algorithmic decision-making in government. It suggests that Bridges, alongside recent decisions in Canada and the Netherlands, forms part of a broader trend: the courts are placing the burden of testing and reviewing potentially discriminatory algorithms on government, rather than the general public.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Faculty of Law, Oxford University. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > The York Law School |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 04 May 2021 11:30 |
Last Modified: | 02 Apr 2025 23:21 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:173691 |
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Description: 200929 Maxwell Tomlinson - final - for publication (reviewed) - JM