Council of Europe launches tool to detect AI-driven discrimination

The Council of Europe on Thursday published a practical guide to help equality bodies determine whether an artificial intelligence system has contributed to discrimination and what steps should follow if it has.

The European assessment methodology on algorithmic discrimination was presented in Brussels at the closing event of a two-year project co-funded by the EU and carried out by the Council of Europe with the European Commission.

The Council of Europe said the publication “translates standards and legal and technical expertise into a practical, step-by-step approach for practitioners.” It explains how equality bodies can identify discrimination caused by an algorithm or AI system and what remedial steps to take.

The guide is designed to help equality bodies and other actors identify the algorithmic system involved in a case, collect the information needed to assess possible discrimination, examine the issue from legal and technical angles, and map possible remedies when discrimination is found.

The publication is initially available in English, Dutch, French, Swedish, Finnish, and Portuguese, according to the statement.