Research summary
As a society, we increasingly rely on computer algorithms to analyze large amounts of data in areas ranging from biomedicine to psychology to criminal justice. We also use them to inform high-stakes decision making. The emerging field of data ethics studies the ethical and social impacts these algorithms can have on a growing number of aspects of our lives.
Dr. Eran Tal, Canada Research Chair in Data Ethics, is working on a novel approach to dealing with problems in data ethics centred around the idea of responsible measurement. Addressing three clusters of questions in data ethics—bias and fairness, transparency and trust, and responsibility and accountability—he and his research team are developing this new approach by consulting with data scientists, legal scholars, policy makers, technology companies, stakeholders and the general public.