Documentation, Informaiton & Knowledge ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (3): 116-124.doi: 10.13366/j.dik.2022.03.116

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Predictive Algorithms and Social Equity: A Perspective from Access to “Opportunity Information”

  

  • Online:2022-05-10 Published:2022-07-30

Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] In order to provide advice on the legal protection of the fundamental rights of data subjects, this study analyzes and discusses access to "opportunity information"(such as employment opportunities, educational opportunities,etc.)that significantly impact individual rights. [Design/Methodology] Taking Facebook’s "nano-targeting" advertisements as an example, combined with the operation mode of online recruitment, this paper explains how predictive algorithms control access to opportunity information, especially employment information, which may exacerbate or even worsen existing patterns of inequality, and undermine social fairness and justice. [Findings/Conclusion] The results show that when an Internet platform service provider designs a positioning algorithm to determine which advertisements are served to whom, the provider has surpassed its role as a network service provider and has become a network content provider, and should be held responsible for this impact. [Originality/Value] The concept of "opportunity information" is proposed and defined in this paper, which provides a new perspective for clarifying the fairness of algorithms.


Key words: Access to opportunity information, Prediction algorithms, Social equity, Internet service provider, Nano-targeting