Author Archives: Francesca Palmiotto

Challenging automated filtering systems – The case of Yelp

Before choosing a restaurant, you will probably seek advice on TripAdvisor or Yelp. These platforms employ filtering algorithms to ensure reliability and authenticity of their reviews. As the livelihood of the business largely depends on its digital reputation, the correct functioning of these filters is fundamental. If the algorithm assesses reviews wrongly, this will damage…

Algorithmic Opacity as a Challenge to the Rights of the Defense

Algorithms are increasingly used in criminal proceedings for evidentiary purposes and for supporting decision-making. In a worrying trend, these tools are still concealed in secrecy and opacity preventing the possibility to understand how their specific output has been generated. Does opacity represent a threat to fair trial rights? Exploring the case of Exodus, a malware used for…