D66 and CDA call for supervisor for government algorithms

Government parties D66 and the CDA argue in favour of stricter rules for the use of algorithms by the government, reports NOS. According to the two parties, previous reports from the news channel indicate a ‘proliferation’ of algorithms in the government.

Specifically, the D66 and the CDA want a watchdog to monitor the use of algorithms. The watchdog must also draw up a directive to determine when its use is justified and when it is not.

According to earlier reports from the NOS, the government uses predictive algorithms on a large scale. However, this is not always clear to citizens. In addition, the programmes may sometimes have negative effects, such as discrimination. After that, the Dutch Data Protection Authority called on the government to be more transparent about the use of algorithms.

The algorithms are used to detect fraud and crime, among other things. In addition, they are used to estimate what care a person needs, or to determine the probability that a pupil will leave school before completing the training. The algorithms are used by the police, the Tax and Customs Administration and the Centre for the Indication of Care, among others. Municipalities such as Rotterdam, Tilburg and Groningen also rely on predictive algorithms.

Motion

D66 Member of Parliament Kees Verhoeven now states that nowhere is it possible to centrally monitor which algorithms are being used. Together with colleague Harry van der Molen of the CDA, Verhoeven is tabling a motion today, in which the parties are asking for the stricter rules. Like the Dutch Data Protection Authority, Van der Molen believes that the government should be open about the use of algorithms. In addition, according to Van der Molen, the government must use them meticulously.

The parties have not yet decided whether there should be a completely new supervisor, or whether, for example, the Authority for Personal Data can take on this task. The MPs expect to get a majority for their motion.