AI RESEARCH

[D] The danger of agency laundering

r/MachineLearning

Agency laundering describes how individuals or groups use technical systems to escape moral blame. This process involves shifting a choice to a computer or a complex rule set. The person in charge blames the technology when a negative event occurs. This masks the human origin of the decision. It functions as a shield against criticism. A business might use an algorithm to screen job seekers. Owners claim the machine is objective even if the system behaves with bias. They hide their own role in the setup of that system. Judges also use software to predict crime risks.