European Union regulations on algorithmic decision-making and a "right to explanation"

TL;DR

The paper discusses the EU's new GDPR regulations that restrict automated decision-making and establish a right to explanation, emphasizing challenges and opportunities for designing transparent, non-discriminatory algorithms.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of GDPR on machine learning use and highlights the need for developing explainable, fair algorithms to comply with new legal requirements.

Findings

GDPR will restrict certain automated decisions affecting users.

The law creates a right for users to get explanations of decisions.

Opportunities arise for designing transparent and fair algorithms.

Abstract

We summarize the potential impact that the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation will have on the routine use of machine learning algorithms. Slated to take effect as law across the EU in 2018, it will restrict automated individual decision-making (that is, algorithms that make decisions based on user-level predictors) which "significantly affect" users. The law will also effectively create a "right to explanation," whereby a user can ask for an explanation of an algorithmic decision that was made about them. We argue that while this law will pose large challenges for industry, it highlights opportunities for computer scientists to take the lead in designing algorithms and evaluation frameworks which avoid discrimination and enable explanation.