[ONLINE] - How Advertising Algorithms Drive the Internet’s Favorite Business Model

Internet platforms are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools to shape the content we see and engage with online. In particular, platforms use algorithmic tools to facilitate the targeting and delivery of digital advertisements for everything from shoes to housing to employment opportunities. However, there is a significant lack of transparency around these algorithmic decision-making processes. This raises serious questions regarding how these algorithmic tools can impact user expression and promote biased and discriminatory outcomes, how platforms safeguard user rights, how these companies can be held accountable for their practices, and how policymakers can address these challenges.

Join New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) for the first virtual panel in a two-part series focused on promoting greater fairness, accountability, and transparency around the use of algorithmic decision-making.

This event builds off of work that New America’s Open Technology Institute has conducted over the past year, which explores how internet platforms use algorithmic decision-making to shape and influence content and user experiences through four key areas: content moderation, newsfeed and search result rankings, ad targeting and delivery, and recommendation systems.

Follow the conversation using #AdAlgorithms and following @OTI.

Speakers:

Joe Westby, @JoeWestby
Technology and Human Rights Researcher, Amnesty International

Lindsey Kerr, @LindsKerr1
Staff Director and Chief Counsel, Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar’s Office, U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Morgan Williams
General Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance

Nathalie Maréchal, @MarechalPhD
Senior Policy Analyst, Ranking Digital Rights

Moderator:

Spandi Singh, @spandi_s
Policy Analyst, New America’s Open Technology Institute