Equinet invites experts to put forward their proposals for a study on the equality implications of artificial intelligence and the role of equality bodies in the public discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination.
Deadline: 3 June 2019
Background and Objectives
Digitalisation, automation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has already had a significant effect on today’s societies in Europe and this trend is set to continue and even accelerate in the coming years. While many of the effects are positive and contribute to higher living standards, there is an increasing acknowledgment of the possible drawbacks, including the inherent risk of the vast capacity of automated systems being used for discrimination, profiling on the basis of certain characteristics.
To date research has been conducted on the benefits and risks to equality caused by automated decision-making and more generally, by AI, but there has been no study in Europe on these effects of AI from the perspective of equality bodies. This Equinet research paper will strive to fill this gap and trigger discussions on the effects of AI-driven technologies on equality through collecting the experience of and giving pointers to equality bodies as to their potential contribution in this field.
We are looking for an expert/s to produce an Equinet paper with the following overarching objectives:
- Map and identify
– the equality implications of AI systems for equality bodies, taking into account their different legal bases, structures and mandates;
– the nature, scope and potential modalities of the role of equality bodes in the public discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination; - Provide practical guidance to equality bodies in
– identifying and assessing the equality-relevant consequences of AI and automated decision-making;
– identifying how to use their powers, expertise and resources to better position themselves in the public discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination; - Show-case through representative case studies achievements as well as challenges of equality bodies in tackling algorithmic discrimination and more broadly, in beginning to address AI-related questions from the vantage point of non-discrimination and equality.
Are you the expert/s we are looking for?
Could you:
- Provide a list and brief description of the equality implications of AI systems for equality bodies, taking into account their different legal bases, structures and mandates?
- Develop a typology of possible interventions of equality bodies in the public discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination?
- Provide a checklist for equality bodies of questions for assessing the equality and non-discrimination compliance of automated decision-making systems and other AI technologies?
- Provide a set of recommendations how to use the powers, expertise and resources of equality bodies to better position them in the public discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination?
- Provide a list of policy, legislative and regulatory issues that equality bodies could address in the European context in order to better position them in the wider European discourse on AI and algorithmic discrimination?
If so, send us your proposal!
Submission of Proposals
A detailed proposal of the suggested approach, methodology and timeline as well as proposed budget and expert CV(s) needs to be submitted by 3 June 2019 to the attention of:
Milla Vidina, Equinet Policy Officer
Email: Milla.Vidina@archive.equineteurope.org
Phone number: 0032 2 212 31 85
Timeframe
The indicative timeframe for the commissioned paper is as follows:
- Submission date: 3 June 2019
- Result of the selection process: 12 June 2019
- Start of the work during the week of 17 June 2019
- Present interim results to Equinet based on desk research, survey results and interviews conducted by 7 October 2019
- The contractor might be invited to present the preliminary findings of the paper at the Equinet Annual General Meeting in Brussels on 24 October
- Completion of work expected by January 2020
Budget
The maximum budget for the commissioning of this paper is 12.000 EUR (excluding VAT).
Costs for travel (if and as necessary) or relating to presentation/discussion of the paper will be covered by Equinet separately (if and as necessary).