A new body inside the U.K. Cabinet Office — the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) — has taken a step toward creating more transparency around the algorithmic tech government agencies use. It unveiled an algorithmic transparency standard on Nov. 29 in conjunction with the country’s National Data Strategy and National AI Strategy.
Its new standard requires government agencies to publish details associated with algorithmic systems they use including descriptions, vendor names, potential purposes, information about who can access the technology and what type of expertise they have and links to system architecture documents. The goal is to increase transparency around algorithmic tools used to support government decisions such as those that could have legal or economic impacts on people.
To evaluate the standard, select government departments will pilot it in the coming months. The U.K. plans to finalize it for formal endorsement by its Data Standards Authority next year. The CDDO was formed in April 2021 and is responsible for updating the U.K. government’s legacy IT systems as well as developing its cybersecurity and data strategies.
Not all governments are forthcoming about how they use automated or algorithmic tech. When
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE