The purpose of this briefing was to provide an update on the development of a voluntary algorithm charter and agree next steps ahead of a meeting of Digital and Data Ministers on 25 September.
Report: Responding to feedback on the Algorithm charter [PDF 999 KB]
The charter was part of the wider algorithm transparency work that also included a workforce capacity initiative and a timeline for possible algorithm regulation. A companion report included details about the workforce capacity initiative and outlined next steps. This work delivered on our Open Government Partnership commitment to increase the transparency and accountability of how government uses algorithms.
We consulted widely across-government with 28 agencies about the draft algorithm charter.
The following are the recommendations that were presented:
In October 2018 we undertook an assessment of the use of algorithms in 14 government agencies. The Algorithm Assessment report (the assessment) made a number of recommendations that could help New Zealanders be informed and have confidence in how the government uses algorithms to inform decisions about individuals.
In June 2019 we advised you that we had identified a range of possible options to progress work on the recommendations. This included a mandated action plan, a voluntary charter or an initiative to improve data ethics in the analytics workforce. We recommended the combination of a voluntary charter and workforce capacity initiative as the most viable ways to respond to the recommendations of the assessment and advised you that these options had received broad support from agencies.
At the last meeting of Digital and Data Ministers in June 2019, Ministers endorsed these options and agreed the direction of this work could include eventual regulation of public and private sector algorithms. Officials were invited to report back to the next Digital and Data Ministers meeting with a plan for delivering the endorsed options and an indicative timeline for possible regulation.
We have been developing the plan for a voluntary charter and workforce capacity initiative in consultation with other government agencies. The Government Chief Digital Officer has agreed to lead the work on a timeline for possible regulation as a part of their existing work programme with the World Economic Forum.
The Algorithm Charter is intended to provide a clear response to the recommendations of the assessment and to increase public confidence in government use of algorithms by providing a tangible commitment from signatory agencies to increase transparency and accountability.
The Charter and the wider system work around algorithmic transparency is an opportunity to position New Zealand government as a thought leader in this space. Responding to the assessment builds on existing momentum to support New Zealanders and contribute meaningfully to global debate on this important and growing issue.
We initially consulted with government agencies on a high-level charter, which articulated several of the principles for the Safe and Effective Use of Data and Analytics (see appendix two), but which did not describe how these might be implemented in significant detail. We received written feedback from 17 agencies, with a range of different responses to the charter:
We heard that the data system is crowded and guidance for best practice needs to align with existing activity. There is broad support for continuing to align the charter with the Principles. We developed the following model (represented here in HTML) to explain how the charter could relate to existing system tools currently under development and included this as part of our consultation.
Much of the feedback we received suggested that adopting the kind of incremental approach promoted by the charter as being ‘too little’ but other feedback from agencies has been equally opposed to more significant reform, such as the mandated action plan, consulted on earlier this year, as being ‘too much’.
A charter signed by New Zealand government agencies will contribute positively to the use of algorithms by government and signal a commitment to ethical practise in emerging technologies. We believe that a public document, like the charter, signed by Chief Executives provides an appropriate level of accountability.
We have revised the draft charter to reflect agency feedback (see appendix one). This revision includes responses to the concerns expressed by agencies in the following ways:
As a model, the Accessibility Charter follows a hybrid of regular public reporting and central reporting support; agencies report 6-monthly on their progress against commitments with support from an official within the Ministry of Social Development. Reports are sent to the Minister for Disability Issues and shared with responsible officials across the relevant agencies.
As the Charter will be signed by Chief Executives, we propose to table the current revised draft Charter with the members of the Digital Government Leadership Group (DGLG) for discussion at their next meeting on 26 September. This group is well-positioned to take both a system-wide view on appropriate content for the charter and make commitments on behalf of agencies about becoming signatories.
At that meeting we will seek that the DGLG endorse the revised draft Charter, discuss options for implementation, and agree a preferred option for implementation. This model of seeking endorsement from Chief Executive’s follows the same model as was used for the Accessibility Charter.
We recognise that the sequencing of the Digital and Data Ministers meeting on 25 September and DGLG meeting on 26 September is not ideal for finalising the revised draft charter and implementation.
We seek your agreement that this paper and the revised draft Charter be circulated to Digital and Data Ministers ahead of the meeting on 25 September and request that Ministers provide comments or feedback on the revised draft at that meeting.
We recommend that you seek the agreement of the Digital and Data Ministers that the Minister for Government Digital Services and yourself make any amendments to the Charter arising from the DGLG meeting on 26th September
Following this we recommend the draft Charter is published for public consultation, meeting New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership commitment to collaboration with civil society.
We propose to provide a final report back to Digital and Data Ministers, including a summary of feedback received from consultation in early 2020 and seek agreement for finalisation and implementation of the Charter.
September 2019 – REVISED DRAFT FOR ENDORSEMENT BY DGLG
Across the government data system, algorithms have a key role in supporting agencies to undertake their work to improve the lives of people in New Zealand. This Charter exists to demonstrate government’s commitment to using algorithms in a fair and transparent way.
Our organisation is committed to transparent and accountable use of algorithms and other advanced data analytics techniques. Over the next 5 years we will use the Principles for the safe and effective use of data and analytics in our work.
This means we will:
Principles for the safe and effective use of data and analytics
If you’d like more information, have a question, or want to provide feedback, email datalead@stats.govt.nz.
Content last reviewed 21 March 2021.