This project is the first systematic effort to create an evidence base about when, how, for what purposes, and with what implications the Dutch (local) authorities resort to purchasing data from the private sector to make evidence-based decisions addressing societal challenges.

• Sofie de Wilde de Ligny MA
• prof. dr. ir. Fredo Schotanus
• dr. Iryna Susha

Software: 

BOLD Profiler, http://176.34.138.230/ BOLD user manual, https://egordm.github.io/BOLD/user_manual/

BOLD documentation, https://github.com/EgorDm/BOLD

• E. (Egor) Dmitriev MSc
• dr. M.W. (Mel) Chekol

Algorithms increasingly influence organizations in the public sector. Even though algorithms can strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector, there is also reason for concern. Can we trust that these algorithms respect our privacy and work in a non-discriminatory manner? Researchers and citizen organizations call for algorithmic transparency since they expect that this will result in justified trust in the use of these algorithms. This research project investigates this claim through ethical research (mapping ethical dilemmas in algorithmic transparency for justified trust) and experimental research (understanding empirical relations between algorithmic transparency and trust) and design research (developing design principles for algorithmic transparency). The research objectives are to develop a thorough ethical and empirical understanding of algorithmic transparency and use this understanding to develop design principles to guide the development and implementation of (1) predictive policing algorithms for operational planning and (2) intake systems for crime reporting by citizens. We will focus specifically on the police since they are quite advanced in the use of these algorithms and this usage generates specific concerns in view of the key position of the police in dealing with conflict in our society. Our research combines knowledge from the humanities about ethics and ethical dilemma’s with knowledge from social science on empirical relations between transparency and trust. For the development of the design principles, we will also build upon knowledge from information systems research to ensure the validity and usefulness of these principles for designing algorithms.

• prof. dr. Albert Meijer
• prof. dr. José van Dijck

Utrecht Data School is a research platform for investigating datafication in public management, police and security, and the media industry. It is a teaching platform for digital methods, data practices and data visualization. The Utrecht Data School employs entrepreneurial research as a method to immerse into the field where datafication transforms society. Carrying out commissioned research projects for external partners, the members of the Utrecht Data School are deeply embedded in the unfolding transformation of society through emerging data practices.

Utrecht Data School is a research platform for investigating datafication in public management, police and security, and the media industry. It is a teaching platform for digital methods, data practices and data visualization. The Utrecht Data School employs entrepreneurial research as a method to immerse into the field where datafication transforms society. Carrying out commissioned research projects for external partners, the members of the Utrecht Data School are deeply embedded in the unfolding transformation of society through emerging data practices.

• dr. Karin van Es
• I.M. (Iris) Muis
• dr. Tim de Winkel MA
• dr. Gerwin van Schie