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Right to explanation
open-in-new
<p>In the <a href="/facts/Regulation/eFR0l2x9">regulation</a> of <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>, particularly <a href="/facts/Artificial_intelligence/lJGauQwX">artificial intelligence</a> and its subfield of <a href="/facts/Machine_learning/e0w0XJTu">machine learning</a>, a right to explanation (or right to <i>an</i> explanation) is a <a href="/facts/Right/K72eoKB6">right</a> to be given an <a href="/facts/Explanation/g1aEucUn">explanation</a> for an output of the algorithm. Such rights primarily refer to <a href="/facts/Individual_right/61eTJH1B">individual rights</a> to be given an explanation for decisions that significantly affect an individual, particularly legally or financially. For example, a person who applies for a loan and is denied may ask for an explanation, which could be "<a href="/facts/Credit_bureau/28awU1V8">Credit bureau</a> X reports that you declared bankruptcy last year; this is the main factor in considering you too likely to default, and thus we will not give you the loan you applied for." </p><p>Some such <a href="/facts/Legal_right/9TgjWASG">legal rights</a> already exist, while the scope of a general "right to explanation" is a matter of ongoing debate. There have been arguments made that a "social right to explanation" is a crucial foundation for an information society, particularly as the institutions of that society will need to use digital technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning. In other words, that the related <a href="/facts/Automated_decision-making/Rcowat6I">automated decision making</a> systems that use <a href="/facts/Explainable_artificial_intelligence/dS566nb2">explainability</a> would be more <a href="/facts/Trustworthy/bCpS9Yxg">trustworthy</a> and transparent. Without this right, which could be constituted both legally and through <a href="/facts/Professional/Nmq2oUMU">professional standards</a>, the public will be left without much recourse to challenge the decisions of automated systems. </p>