Automating Inequality. Conversation with Virginia Eubanks

Algorithms and automation are making their way around the world. On behalf of innovation and efficiency, automatic data processing is used to make all kinds of decisions, including those that require special attention due to their potential impact on fundamental civil rights. Even so, public administrations, in collaboration with private companies and universities, embrace automation in a bid for the most optimistic technosolutionism.

In her book Automating Inequality (External link)Virginia Eubanks shows us the results of this trend in countries as the United States, where the most invasive and punitive technological systems are aimed at the poverty-stricken. How can we entrust machines with the solution to structural problems? How can machines, which only do mathematical calculations, understand the contexts and situations of the most marginalized groups? Is automating ethical, even when there is no questioning of the perpetuation of the system?

In this conversation with Virginia EubanksC, Oyidiya Oji Palino (Catàrsia) and Algorights, a collective for the defense of human rights in the field of Artificial Intelligence, we will learn about some of the implications of technosolutionism in terms of human rights.

Co-organized together with Espai Societat Oberta and Algorights.o-organized together with Espai Societat Oberta(External link) and Algorights(External link).

In collaboration with Capitán Swing.(External link)