Everyday algorithm auditing: Understanding the power of everyday users in surfacing harmful algorithmic behaviors

Understand

A growing body of literature has proposed formal approaches to audit algorithmic systems for biased and harmful behaviors.

• While formal auditing approaches have been greatly impactful, they often suffer major blindspots, with critical issues surfacing only in the context of everyday use once systems are deployed.
• Recent years have seen many cases in which everyday users of algorithmic systems detect and raise awareness about harmful behaviors that they encounter in the course of their everyday interactions with these systems.
• However, to date little academic attention has been granted to these bottom-up, user-driven auditing processes.