This is very true Wangari. It is critical to evaluate the impact of algorithm-driven decision making in public policy settings. See related article https://medium.com/mit-media-lab/the-algorithms-arent-biased-we-are-a691f5f6... -- Dennis Sankale Information Systems and Security Analyst On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 9:59 PM WANGARI KABIRU via kictanet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/How-biased-computer-engineers-affect-l...

Cathy O’Neil, a bestselling author and a data scientist appropriately refers to biased computer systems as “weapons of math destruction”, because they use mathematical algorithms to ruin lives by placing them in buckets that they don’t belong.

Of course no system can be perfect and that’s why regularly auditing and updating them should be part of a system engineer’s modus operandi.

Be blessed. Regards/Wangari _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke

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Wangari,ListersIn the book "Code is law" Prof. Lessig has also written about the subject. Basically, the Code writer is making the laws.Normally,laws should be made by law makers e.g. Parliament who are accountable to the people in that(in many cases) it is possible to vote them out if not satisfied with their performance. However Code writers are often  not subject to any scrutiny/debate/discussion or argument and are often accountable only to themselves but what they do is of significant publlc interest. And there lies the risk! John Kariuki On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 10:00:32 PM GMT+3, WANGARI KABIRU via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/How-biased-computer-engineers-affect-l... Cathy O’Neil, a bestselling author and a data scientist appropriately refers to biased computer systems as “weapons of math destruction”, because they use mathematical algorithms to ruin lives by placing them in buckets that they don’t belong. Of course no system can be perfect and that’s why regularly auditing and updating them should be part of a system engineer’s modus operandi. Be blessed.Regards/Wangari_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kariuki_jn%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.