@techreport{
author = "Škop, Michal and Merényi, Miklós and Turashvili, Teona and Izdebski, Krzysztof and Kerekeš, Daniel and Ilić, Vujo",
year = "2019",
abstract = "The heated debate on algorithms — which are part of the governmental (but also legislative and judiciary) software and strongly influence citizens’ lives — is present in Western countries, but it has notn yet reached the same level in Central and Eastern Europe. Yet it does not mean that automated decision processes do not exist in the region. During the research, we have found a significant number of algorithms that may be qualified as a part of automated decision making (ADM). We have detected automated decision making in a large number of spheres including speed control, allocation of judges and other public officials, choosing batches for conducting controls and inspections, distributing social benefits, detecting frauds or even preselection of contractors in public procurements. None of the researched countries is close to the transparency standards of ADM. We have met with an official refusal to access source codes or its al gorithmic parts based on statements that this is not public information, they are protected by copyrights or economic secrecy. There is a general lack of understanding among authorities of what automated decision making is. The quotation from one of the emails at the beginning of the report is only an example. Some responses were limited to the statement that the particular office is using computers for their work, so surely there are some algorithms involved. Systems are not transparent even for those who use them. This is the case of the system allocating judges to specific court cases or public officials using algorithms to recruit children into nurseries or pre-selecting bidders. There is no clear division of responsibility for the accuracy of algorithms. Some tools are created and owned by the states, some are owned by external companies. No independent system of auditing algorithmic fairness is set in place as well as no accumulated knowledge exists within central governmental institutions if algorithms are implemented in other subordinated offices. There are no ethical standards implemented nor impact and needs assessments performed to see how algorithms may influence individuals and society. If there is any explanation as to how the specific algorithm works, it is written in a very complicated language and still does not answer crucial questions. We see our role as those who should find some answers where possible and detect specific black holes within the system. We are finishing our report with general recommendations and have separately prepared Policy Recommendations to address these emerging problems to policy and decision makers.",
publisher = "ePaństwo Foundation",
title = "alGOVrithms - State of Play: Report on Algorithms Usage in Government-Citizens Relations in Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_rifdt_3118"
}
