Algorithmic Governance Workshop

Event Summary

On June 27, 2023, Data for Policy participated in the workshop titled “Academic-Policy Collaborations on Human-Centric Algorithmic Governance”, hosted by UCL. The event was organized by Zeynep Engin (Founding Director of Data for Policy CIC), Natalia Domagala (UK Cabinet Office), and Nicola Buckley of the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), University of Cambridge.

About the Workshop

Algorithmic governance is an emerging field focused on the design and execution of governance processes through, by, and with algorithms. It also intersects with the governance of algorithms, as complex decisions affecting individuals, societies, and the environment are increasingly reliant on algorithmic systems. However, the research and policy landscapes in this area are fragmented, indicating a pressing need for new practices in both research and policy.

The workshop aimed to initiate a global conversation, uniting stakeholders from various research and practitioner communities to create a transdisciplinary ecosystem around this vital field.

Workshop Highlights

The workshop featured a mix of in-person and online expert participation, beginning with a scene-setting panel discussion on capacity-building to lead the global debate. The panel included: Gina Neff (Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy), David Pym (UCL), Maria Axente (PwC) and Adrian Weller (Alan Turing Institute)

Throughout the day, participants engaged in discussions on pivotal questions, such as:

• What should good governance look like?
• Can algorithms help resolve systemic issues like prejudice and inequality in human decision-making?
• What are the implications of algorithmic governance for power dynamics in existing governance mechanisms?

Interspersed with table discussions were a series of lightning talks on the topic of human-centric algorithmic governance. Speakers included: Roger Taylor (Open Data and former Chair of Ofqual), Hannah Knox (UCL), Giles Herdale (Royal United Services Institute) and Jenny Brennan (Ada Lovelace)

The workshop concluded with insights on public sector algorithmic governance initiatives from Omar Bitar (Policy Advisor, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat) and Rose Woolhouse (UK Government Office for Artificial Intelligence)

This workshop would not have been possible without the support of UCL Innovation & Enterprise, EPSRC, UCL Public Policy, and Research England.

Workshop Outputs

The event fostered inspiring and engaging conversations on the future of algorithmic governance. Several outputs from the day are available below , including curated video highlights on our YouTube channel and insights from Data & Policy blog piece, which discusses key questions for algorithmic governance research and aims to broaden the debate on this topic.