AlgorithmWatch is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Berlin and Zurich. We fight for a world where algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) do not weaken justice, human rights, democracy and sustainability, but strengthen them.

Explainer: Biometric recognition systems

Show Your Face and AI Tells Who You Are

Biometric recognition technologies can identify and monitor people. They are supposed to provide more security, but they put fundamental rights at risk, discriminate, and can even pave the way to mass surveillance.

In the run-up to the German federal state elections:

Chatbots are still spreading falsehoods

In September 2024, federal state elections will be held in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. AlgorithmWatch and CASM Technology have tested whether AI chatbots answer questions about these elections correctly and unbiased. The result: They are not reliable.

Researching Systemic Risks under the Digital Services Act

AlgorithmWatch has been investigating the concept of "systemic risks" under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the new EU regulation which aims to minimize risks and increase accountability for online platforms and search engines.

Foto von Mel Poole auf Unsplash

Blog

26 August 2022 (update: 4 July 2024)

#aiact #eu #germany #guide

Explainer: AI act

A guide to the AI Act, the EU’s new AI rulebook

In 2024, the EU adopted a law to regulate Artificial Intelligence across all sectors. The regulation is a humble step forward towards protecting people’s fundamental rights from risks stemming from AI. In this guide we will unwrap what the new rules entail and what it will – and won’t – change.

For trans people, online transitioning can be a nightmare

Just a formality? Updating one’s online identity can be like running the gauntlet and a flawed data architecture only makes it worse for the transgender community.

Photo by Ben Marler on Unsplash

Blog

17 July 2024

#hr #work

Explainer: AI in the workplace

Managed by the algorithm: how AI is changing the way we work

Automated decision-making systems control our work, whether in companies or via platforms that allocate jobs to independent contractors. Companies can use them to increase their efficiency, but such systems have a downside: They can also be used to surveil employees and often conceal the exploitation of workers and the environment.

Blog

9 July 2024

#aiact #work

Explainer: AI & labor law

What works and what doesn’t: AI systems and labor law

In many companies, employees are controlled by automated systems, especially in platform work. The use of such systems in the (virtual) workplace is not yet comprehensively regulated by law. New (draft) laws are intended to help workers protect their rights.

Explainer: AI & Sustainability

Sustainable AI: a contradiction in terms?

Does Artificial Intelligence (AI) help tackle the climate crisis or is it an environmental sin worse than flying? We explain how much energy AI systems really consume, why we need better measurements, how AI can become more sustainable, and what all this has to do with the EU's AI Act.

Blog

26 June 2024

#discrimination

Explainer: Algorithmic discrimination

How and why algorithms discriminate

Automated decision-making systems contain hidden discriminatory prejudices. We’ll explain the causes, possible consequences, and the reasons why existing laws do not provide sufficient protection against algorithmic discrimination.

26 June 2024

#discrimination

What is algorithmic discrimination?

Discrimination by algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI): we give an overview of the topic.

10 Questions about AI and elections

2024 is an important election year. While citizens all over the world get ready to cast their ballot, many people worry about AI: Are chatbots and fake images a threat to democracy? Can we still trust what we see online? We explain why the hype around AI and elections is somewhat overblown and which real risks we need to watch out for instead.

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Blog

Upcoming events, campaigns and updates from our team – here is where you get your news about AlgorithmWatch. Visit our blog

October 1, 2024

Why we need to audit algorithms and AI from end to end

September 30, 2024

A Civil Society Summit on Tech, Society, and the Environment

July 26, 2024

AlgorithmWatch is running a new round of its Algorithmic Accountability reporting fellowship

Journalistic stories

How does automated decision-making effect our daily lives? Where are the systems applied and what happens when something goes wrong? Read our journalistic investigations on the current use of ADM systems and their consequences. Read our stories

May 29, 2024

Image generators are trying to hide their biases – and they make them worse

May 27, 2024

“All rise for the honorable AI”: algorithmic management in Polish electronic courts

May 24, 2024

The automated Fortress Europe: No place for human rights

Projects

Our research projects take a specific look at automated decision-making in certain sectors, ranging from sustainablity, the COVID-19 pandemic, human resources to social media platfroms and public discourse. You can also get involved! Engage and contribute, for example with a data donation! Learn more about our projects

October 5, 2023

ChatGPT and Co: Are AI-driven search engines a threat to democratic elections?

April 20, 2023

Automation on the Move

January 19, 2023

New project: Auditing Algorithms for Systemic Risks

Positions

Read our responses and expert analyses on current political and regulatory developments concerning automated decision-making. Read our positions

June 6, 2024

Meta’s elections dashboard: A very disappointing sign

May 29, 2024

Recommendations for the EU Elections 2024

April 11, 2024

If the UN wants to help humanity, it should not fall for AI hype

Publications

Read our comprehensive reports, analyses and working papers on the impact and ethical questions of algorithmic decision-making, written in collaboration with our network of researchers and civil society experts. See our publications

February 14, 2024

Ensuring Legitimacy in Stakeholder Engagement: The ‘5 Es’ Framework

December 15, 2023

AI Chatbot produces misinformation about elections

November 21, 2023

SustAIn Magazine #3 – A Different Take on AI: We Decide What AI Has To Do for Us