Dr Michel Loi, AI ETHICS EXPERT BUSINESS CONSULTANT RESEARCH LEADER Logo

The Fair Chances in Algorithmic Fairness: A Response to Holm

Authors: Castro, C., & Loi, M.

Published on: Res Publica, 29(2), 331–337.

ABSTRACT

Holm (Res Publica, 2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11158-022-09546-3) argues that a class of algorithmic fairness measures, that he refers to as the ‘performance parity criteria’, can be understood as applications of John Broome’s Fairness Principle. We argue that the performance parity criteria cannot be read this way. This is because in the relevant context, the Fairness Principle requires the equalization of actual individuals’ individual-level chances of obtaining some good (such as an accurate prediction from a predictive system), but the performance parity criteria do not guarantee any such thing: the measures merely ensure that certain population-level ratios hold.

Publication category : Journal Articles