Algorithmic policing accountability: eight sociotechnical challenges

Law enforcement agencies increasingly adopt algorithms for their policing practices, leading to new accountability challenges. However, academic literature tends to regard algorithmic applications as a single entity, resulting in broad and general statements on these risks. By introducing a sociotec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policing & society 2024-03, Vol.34 (3), p.124-138
Main Author: Wessels, Martijn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
accountability risks
algorithmic accountability
Algorithmic policing
Algorithms
big data policing
Challenges
Investigations (Law enforcement)
Law enforcement
Law enforcement agencies
Policing
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Summary:Law enforcement agencies increasingly adopt algorithms for their policing practices, leading to new accountability challenges. However, academic literature tends to regard algorithmic applications as a single entity, resulting in broad and general statements on these risks. By introducing a sociotechnical model of algorithmic policing, this paper identifies eight accountability challenges that originate from technical, organisational and human components. It is illuminated how algorithmic policing accountability is a process that consists of multiple steps that should be considered separately to scrutinise the accountability challenges. The present study showcases how the sociotechnical context determines whether and how accountability issues might arise in algorithmic policing practices. The accountability challenges are presented as propositions that can direct future research in assessing the accountability risks of algorithmic policing applications.
ISSN:1043-9463
1477-2728
DOI:10.1080/10439463.2023.2241965