Stop the AMS algorithm

Computers should not make decisions about people!

4621 of 5000 signatures so far.

Panel Discussion on the AMS Algorithm

Dauer: 70 Minuten

At the start of the action week in Upper Austria, at the beginning of May 2022, during which the abolition of such a machine-based system was campaigned for, representatives from science, politics, social partnership and administration discussed their approach to the AMS algorithm. An exciting round, with many arguments and quite unexpected twists.

Am Podium:
Dr. Doris Allhutter, Senior Scientist, Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung
Mag.a Dagmar Andree, MBA, Leiterin Abt. Wirtschafts-, Sozial- & Gesellschaftspolitik, Kammer für Arbeiter & Angestellte Oberösterreich
Mag. Gerald Loacker, Abgeordneter zum Nationalrat, NEOS
Thomas Lohninger, executive director ; epicenter.works
Dr. Andreas Zavadil, CIPP/E, CIPM, Datenschutzbehörde / Austrian Data Protection Authority
Durch das Gespräch führt : Mag. Daniela Soykan

Mehr Infos zur Veranstaltung

Was sonst noch war ...

Focusgruppen & Report

Im September 2022 fanden unsere Fokusgruppen statt, in denen wir detailliert die Probleme des AMS-Algorithmus in moderierten Gruppengesprächen eruierten. Wir sprachen mit AMS Mitarbeitenden und Betroffenen in unterschiedlichen Zusammensetzungen, um eine möglichst große Vielfalt abzubilden. Dennoch war das Ergebnis überraschend gleich: eine persönliche Betreuung ist sehr wichtig, hilft und wird von allen Seiten gewünscht. Und alle hätten gerne mehr Zeit mit der:dem menschlichen Betreuer:in. Das Geld, das in intransparente Maschinen geflossen ist, sollte hier sehr viel besser investiert werden.

Zu den gesamten Ergebnissen und dem Report:

Der Report als PDF-Datei

Roadshow Pt. II

Weil unsere erste Tour so erfolgreich war und wir bemerkt hatten, dass wir nicht alle Gruppen direkt ansprechen konnten, wiederholten wir die Roadshow noch einmal. Mit etwas anderen Vorzeichen. Bei der zweiten Roadshow legten wir den Focus auf besonders betroffene Communitys. Wir hatten direkt Termine mit Organisationen mit Migrationserfahrung und Gruppen von Mitarbeitenden von Sozialorganisationen in Oberösterreich vor Ort gemacht, um noch effektiver Information und Aufklärung weiter geben zu können.

Mit unserem Tourbus und dem einarmigen Banditen „AMS-Algomat“ haben wir Präsentationen gezeigt, Aufklärungsmaterial verteilt und kamen so mit vielen Personen ins Gespräch. Auch hier war der Dialog sehr fruchtbar und wir konnten selbst weitere Einblicke in die Folgen bei Betroffenen gewinnen. Zusammen mit den Communitys konnten wir bestehende Probleme identifizieren und mögliche Gründe und Lösungen anbieten. Nun können alle mit dem neu erworbenen Wissen tatsächlich tätig werden, Auskunft einfordern und bei Problemen kompetent ins Gespräch gehen.

Video über das Projekt

Das Projekt „Stoppt den AMS-Algorithmus“ lief bis 31.10.2022. Hier könnt ihr eine schöne Kurzdoku als Video sehen:

That was the tour ...

In May 2022, we were on tour in Upper Austria and had many interesting conversations with those affected and employees of the AMS. Most of them agreed that such a machine-based system is terribly unfair. It remains a waste of money, because it is neither helpful for the job seekers nor for the AMS employees, many of whom showed solidarity with our campaign

Our one-armed bandit "Algomat" was a complete success. Many "played" with the machine, whose programming was based on the known data about the AMS algorithm. The machine made it easy to understand how unfair and random the existing system is

Our conclusion after this tour is even clearer: this AMS algorithm is an expensive stillborn of a policy that propagated to save public money with the help of a digital machine. What was achieved was the opposite, namely the waste of taxpayers' money in an expensive digital solution that is nothing but unjust and already keeps lawyers, the data protection authority and the court busy.

Dates

May 2nd AMS Traun
May 3rd AMS Wels
May 4th AMS Steyr
May 5th AMS Vöcklabruck
May 6th AMS Linz

The introduction of the AMS algorithm is a dangerous breach of the dam.

Until now, it has been the case that the use of entirely new technologies has been at least publicly debated and democratically legitimized and democratically legitimized by a law. This is not the case with the AMS algorithm.

This system was developed and presented without public debate. Civil society was not involved in this process, and to this day there is a fundamental lack of transparency about how this system works and decides about us.

A similar system in Poland was overturned by the Constitutional Court overturned. In the Netherlands, too, an algorithm-based system, that was supposed to monitor welfare recipients was declared unlawful and unlawful and was discontinued.

We must not allow characteristics, characteristics over which we have no control be decisive in determining whether people are Education and training are prohibited. Algorithmic Systems must combat prejudice and injustice and not and must not cement these injustices cement these injustices in place.

Our 7 demands

1. People, not computers, should decide

People should be able to make decisions about to decide on access to government services, instead of just nodding off decisions made by a computer.

The AMS algorithm must be rejected and shut down. A computer must not be allowed to decide human fates, and access to state benefits must not be regulated by a computer. Decisions must be made comprehensibly, transparently, and with human measure. The system is a dangerous precedent for outsourcing political decisions to algorithms.

Even if the system does not (yet) make any fully automated decisions, it must not prescribe any decisions that the AMS staff only nods off. The AMS counseling sessions usually last only 15 minutes, and there is enormous pressure to justify not contradicting the computer.

2. Encourage skills instead of punishing weaknesses

Enabling more education, by promoting and enabling (further) education

People should be promoted on the basis of their skills and strengths, and this requires an increase in further education and training measures for job seekers.

Jobseekers must be allowed to start university or UAS studies (this is currently only allowed if jobseekers have already studied in parallel during their working lives). The AMS should also allow self-paid continuing education, e.g. courses lasting only a few days.

3. More resources for the AMS

We demand more and better trained counselors who have enough time for counseling.

The ratio of counselors to job seekers in Germany is 1:100, while in Austria it is only 1:250. This shows that an increase in this area is conceivable and would make sense, because a better counseling ratio means better job opportunities and higher-quality counseling. The AMS not only needs more money for the training and further education of its consultants. It is equally necessary to increase the quality of meaningful further education and training measures for job seekers.

4. Right to information

We call for comprehensive proactive education about job seekers' rights.

The AMS is funded by all of us and is therefore a service provider with a mandate to help the general public. It must meet all people at eye level. In order for people to be able to talk to their advisors on an equal footing, they first of all need information about what their rights and obligations are in connection with the AMS; starting with what their entitlement to unemployment benefits is linked to - whether and under what circumstances their money can be cut off - whether they have to enter into a support agreement with the AMS or whether this is optional - what their rights to information and disclosure look like and how the legal relationship between them and external partner companies of the AMS is regulated.

5. Comprehensive transparency

Projects and programs that are started with all of our money must be as transparent as possible in order to be evaluable.

The AMS algorithm has been developed for years at great expense, with the public excluded. Informed debate has been impossible simply because neither the system's database nor its results have been made public. Training materials for consultants and processes for appealing the algorithm continue to be kept secret. A scientific reappraisal and democratic debate about the project are thus excluded.

We demand comprehensive and proactive transparency from the AMS. Clarification must not come only through public pressure. At the very least, the mathematical models, the software used, the anonymized data basis, the concrete functioning of the system and the results of the calculation process for individual groups must be published. Likewise, it must be made transparent how the AMS algorithm affects practical counseling and the allocation of subsidies. The measures that the AMS has already taken as a result of the criticism, such as training materials, the interaction with the restructuring of the AMS and accompanying processes, as well as complaint options for those affected, must also finally be published.

6. Risk check for algorithms

We call for a review of algorithms for their technical and social impact before they are introduced (obligation for an upstream Algorithmic Impact Assessment).

Automated systems that could have negative consequences for people must be closely scrutinized for their functionality and possible consequences before they are introduced. This must be done for all algorithms that potentially interfere with fundamental rights

Here there are international best practices for the control of algorithms, a so-called Algorithmic Impact Assessment. This was neglected in the case of the AMS algorithm and must be mandatory in the future.

Algorithms have to be checked for errors in the system, biases in the data and resulting and resulting negative feedback cycles must be analyzed, before such systems are launched and widely deployed

Not every statistical regression follows the principle of cause and effect Effect. Negative effects on people due to incorrect analyses must be be avoided

That is why we are calling for an Algorithmic Impact Assessment, as is already the case in Canada or the City of New York have already introduced.

7. Only voluntary participation in the algorithm

We demand optional participation in the AMS algorithm (opt-in) and decoupling from any grant award. We want a system that is so good that the people concerned participate in it voluntarily

The AMS is in a position of power vis-à-vis job seekers In the interest of data protection, we therefore call for the voluntary participation of all jobseekers in the AMS algorithm of all job seekers in the AMS algorithm. Job seekers must give their informed consent before the system categorizes them. This Consent can be revoked at any time, which also requires that all calculated Values of the algorithm must be deleted. From the refusal to participate in this System, the jobseekers must not suffer any disadvantages.

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