Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice

Lauren Waardenburg; Anastasia Sergeeva; Marleen Huysman

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice

Lauren Waardenburg^*, Anastasia Sergeeva, Marleen Huysman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

601 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper reports on an ethnographic study of the use of analytics in police work. We find that the introduction of predictive policing was followed by the emergence of the new occupational role of “intelligence officer”. While intelligence officers were initially intended to merely support police officers by making sense of algorithmic outputs, they became increasingly influential in steering police action based on their judgments. Paradoxically, despite the largely subjective nature of intelligence officers’ recommendations, police officers started to increasingly believe in the superiority and objectivity of algorithmic decision-making. Our work contributes to the literature on occupational change and technology by highlighting how analytics can occasion the emergence of intermediary occupational roles. We argue that amidst critical debates on subjectivity of analytics, more attention should be paid to intermediaries – those who are in-between designers and users – who may exert the most consequential influence on analytics outcomes by further black-boxing the inherent inclusion of human expertise in analytics.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings
Editors	Carsten Østerlund, Magnus Mähring, Ulrike Schultze, Kai Riemer, Margunn Aanestad
Publisher	Springer New York LLC
Pages	96-109
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030040918
ISBN (Print)	9783030040901
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8
Publication status	Published - 2018
Event	IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings - San Francisco, United States Duration: 11 Dec 2018 → 12 Dec 2018

Publication series

Name	IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology
Volume	543
ISSN (Print)	1868-4238

Conference

Conference	IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Francisco
Period	11/12/18 → 12/12/18

Keywords

Algorithms
Analytics
Data-driven work
Future of work
Occupational change
Predictive policing

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

Waardenburg2018_Chapter_HotspotsAndBlindSpotsFinal published version, 733 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

Persistent URL (handle)

Copy link address

Cite this

Waardenburg, L., Sergeeva, A., & Huysman, M. (2018). Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice. In C. Østerlund, M. Mähring, U. Schultze, K. Riemer, & M. Aanestad (Eds.), Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings (pp. 96-109). (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 543). Springer New York LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

Waardenburg, Lauren ; Sergeeva, Anastasia ; Huysman, Marleen. / Hotspots and blind spots : A case of predictive policing in practice. Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings. editor / Carsten Østerlund ; Magnus Mähring ; Ulrike Schultze ; Kai Riemer ; Margunn Aanestad. Springer New York LLC, 2018. pp. 96-109 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology).

@inproceedings{fdf09558113f48cca053f07f5a96ff6e,

title = "Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice",

abstract = "This paper reports on an ethnographic study of the use of analytics in police work. We find that the introduction of predictive policing was followed by the emergence of the new occupational role of “intelligence officer”. While intelligence officers were initially intended to merely support police officers by making sense of algorithmic outputs, they became increasingly influential in steering police action based on their judgments. Paradoxically, despite the largely subjective nature of intelligence officers{\textquoteright} recommendations, police officers started to increasingly believe in the superiority and objectivity of algorithmic decision-making. Our work contributes to the literature on occupational change and technology by highlighting how analytics can occasion the emergence of intermediary occupational roles. We argue that amidst critical debates on subjectivity of analytics, more attention should be paid to intermediaries – those who are in-between designers and users – who may exert the most consequential influence on analytics outcomes by further black-boxing the inherent inclusion of human expertise in analytics.",

keywords = "Algorithms, Analytics, Data-driven work, Future of work, Occupational change, Predictive policing",

author = "Lauren Waardenburg and Anastasia Sergeeva and Marleen Huysman",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783030040901",

series = "IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology",

publisher = "Springer New York LLC",

pages = "96--109",

editor = "Carsten {\O}sterlund and Magnus M{\"a}hring and Ulrike Schultze and Kai Riemer and Margunn Aanestad",

booktitle = "Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings",

note = "IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings ; Conference date: 11-12-2018 Through 12-12-2018",

}

Waardenburg, L, Sergeeva, A & Huysman, M 2018, Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice. in C Østerlund, M Mähring, U Schultze, K Riemer & M Aanestad (eds), Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 543, Springer New York LLC, pp. 96-109, IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings, San Francisco, United States, 11/12/18. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice. / Waardenburg, Lauren; Sergeeva, Anastasia ; Huysman, Marleen.
Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings. ed. / Carsten Østerlund; Magnus Mähring; Ulrike Schultze; Kai Riemer; Margunn Aanestad. Springer New York LLC, 2018. p. 96-109 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 543).

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Hotspots and blind spots

T2 - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings

AU - Waardenburg, Lauren

AU - Sergeeva, Anastasia

AU - Huysman, Marleen

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - This paper reports on an ethnographic study of the use of analytics in police work. We find that the introduction of predictive policing was followed by the emergence of the new occupational role of “intelligence officer”. While intelligence officers were initially intended to merely support police officers by making sense of algorithmic outputs, they became increasingly influential in steering police action based on their judgments. Paradoxically, despite the largely subjective nature of intelligence officers’ recommendations, police officers started to increasingly believe in the superiority and objectivity of algorithmic decision-making. Our work contributes to the literature on occupational change and technology by highlighting how analytics can occasion the emergence of intermediary occupational roles. We argue that amidst critical debates on subjectivity of analytics, more attention should be paid to intermediaries – those who are in-between designers and users – who may exert the most consequential influence on analytics outcomes by further black-boxing the inherent inclusion of human expertise in analytics.

AB - This paper reports on an ethnographic study of the use of analytics in police work. We find that the introduction of predictive policing was followed by the emergence of the new occupational role of “intelligence officer”. While intelligence officers were initially intended to merely support police officers by making sense of algorithmic outputs, they became increasingly influential in steering police action based on their judgments. Paradoxically, despite the largely subjective nature of intelligence officers’ recommendations, police officers started to increasingly believe in the superiority and objectivity of algorithmic decision-making. Our work contributes to the literature on occupational change and technology by highlighting how analytics can occasion the emergence of intermediary occupational roles. We argue that amidst critical debates on subjectivity of analytics, more attention should be paid to intermediaries – those who are in-between designers and users – who may exert the most consequential influence on analytics outcomes by further black-boxing the inherent inclusion of human expertise in analytics.

KW - Algorithms

KW - Analytics

KW - Data-driven work

KW - Future of work

KW - Occupational change

KW - Predictive policing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058291169&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058291169&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85058291169

SN - 9783030040901

T3 - IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology

SP - 96

EP - 109

BT - Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings

A2 - Østerlund, Carsten

A2 - Mähring, Magnus

A2 - Schultze, Ulrike

A2 - Riemer, Kai

A2 - Aanestad, Margunn

PB - Springer New York LLC

Y2 - 11 December 2018 through 12 December 2018

ER -

Waardenburg L, Sergeeva A , Huysman M. Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice. In Østerlund C, Mähring M, Schultze U, Riemer K, Aanestad M, editors, Living with Monsters? Social Implications of Algorithmic Phenomena, Hybrid Agency, and the Performativity of Technology - IFIP WG 8.2 Working Conference on the Interaction of Information Systems and the Organization, IS and O 2018, Proceedings. Springer New York LLC. 2018. p. 96-109. (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-04091-8_8

Hotspots and blind spots: A case of predictive policing in practice

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this