New Article: James A. Allen, The Color of Algorithms: An Analysis and Proposed Research Agenda for Deterring Algorithmic Redlining, 46 Fordham Urb. L.J. 219 (2019). Abstract below:
Modern algorithms are capable of processing gargantuan amounts of data — with them, decision-making is faster and more efficient than ever. This massive amount of data, termed “big data,” is compiled from innumerable sources, and due to decades of discrimination, often leads algorithms to arrive at biased results that disadvantage people of color and people from low- and moderate income communities. Moreover, the decision-making procedures of modern algorithms are often structured by a homogenous group of people, who develop algorithms without transparency, auditing, or oversight.
This lack of accountability is particularly worrisome because algorithms are beginning to be deployed more rapidly and more expansively by public and private actors. Recent scholarship has raised concerns about how algorithms work to perpetuate discrimination and stereotypes in practically all areas, from casually searching the internet to criminal justice. This Article explores how algorithms in the housing arena operate, or have the potential to operate, in a manner that perpetuates previous eras of discrimination and segregation. By specifically concentrating on algorithms used in housing finance, marketing, and tenancy selection, this Article provides a research agenda for exploring whether housing stakeholders are creating an era of algorithmic redlining.
Poverty Law 