The Algorithmic Society: An Introduction

Algorithmic applications are increasingly central to how our society is governed. Even though automation and digitalisation are not new, this chapter suggests that algorithmic governance is different in the sense that: (1) it allows for full automation that designs human agency out of decision-making processes; (2) it is embedded in a broader information architecture; and (3) it is no longer limited to automating decision-making procedures, but is also used to predict, nudge and constrain human behaviour through predictive algorithms. The assumption is that algorithms allow for more efficient and fairer decision-making than humans are ever capable of. We argue, however, that the eradication of the human factor in decision-making, the one-sided focus on efficiency, and the use of computational analyses for control, surveillance and prevention should lead to a more critical attitude.