Rick Searle, adjunct professor of political science and history for Delaware Valley College and Affiliate Scholar of the IEET speaks on the topic "Algorithmic governance" at Nigeria ICT Fest 2015.

1. Algorithmic Governance: opportunities and pitfalls

3. What is Algorithmic Governance?
“ The use of software to provide
services that have traditionally been the
responsibility of public officials.”

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7. Pros of Algorithmic Governance
Less opportunity for corruption
and nepotism.
 Greater efficiency
Lower costs
Greater citizen satisfaction
because of above.

8. Corruption and
nepotism has been
endemic to all new
democracies.

11. Corruption was endemic in the US
during the 1800s.

12. US political nepotisms was known as the “Spoils
System “.

13. Regulation was put in the hands of
permanent agencies staffed by experts who
were chosen based on education and civil
service exams rather than political
connections.

14. In the United States this civil service
reform happened in the late 1800s and
early 1900s.

15. Algorithmic governance may be a way
for developing countries to rationalize
public services more cheaply and easily
than was the case in developed
countries.

16. Examples of how:
Devices like street light cameras
decrease opportunities for bribery.
Use of hiring algorithms for public
service positions should decrease
potential nepotism and help depoliticize
hiring.

17. Another problem
developing countries
face is how to
establish clear
property rights.

18. Block chain decentralized ledgers….

19. Citizens as sensors:
Using ubiquitous mobile
technology to receive
updates on everything from
traffic accidents to
non-emergency service needs.

21. Cons of algorithmic
governance.
“Smart cities” can be
what Anthony
Townsend calls
“buggy, brittle, and
bugged”.

22. Over reliance on software to
provide services can result in
those services experiencing
the kinds of failures common in
“buggy” software.

23. Algorithmic systems can also be
“brittle” that is easily crashed by
unexpected contingencies.

24. It is also the case that the more
computerized and networked services
are the easier it is for them to be
“bugged” that is hacked and used for
purposes not intended.

25. Further words of warning:
Need to be mindful that technology and
political action (even when stated goals
are achieved) have unintended
consequences.
Ex: In US rationalization led to a decline in
political participation and legitimacy.

26. Beware of what Evgeny Morozov calls
“technological solutionism” the idea that
an easy technological fix can take the
place of long term, difficult political and
institutional work.

27. Conclusion: algorithmic governance
offers developing countries many
Opportunities, but needs to be pursued
carefully with awareness of its limitations.