Dr Georgia Van Toorn
Dr Georgia Van Toorn

Dr Georgia van Toorn awarded three-month fellowship at Cardiff University’s Data Justice Lab

Author  Loren Dela Cruz
Date 28 April 2023

ADM+S Research Fellow Dr Georgia van Toorn from UNSW has been awarded a three-month fellowship at Cardiff University’s Data Justice Lab to explore the theme of Democratizing the Datafied Society.

Georgia’s project will focus on automated decision-making (ADM) systems in the public sector and how these can be influenced, resisted, and reoriented to promote disability justice.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with disability advocacy groups and Data Justice Lab researchers in exploring the implications of public sector ADM for disability justice. This is a growing issue of concern for disability movements globally and my aim is to start a conversation about what disability-led interventions in this space might look like,” said Georgia.

While at Cardiff university, Georgia will organise an online workshop with participants from academia and civil society, including Disabled People’s Organisations from the UK and Australia, to share knowledge and experiences of participatory ADM.

The project will result in two reports. The first, “ADM in the public sector: impacts and implications for disability justice,” will provide insights on algorithmic harm, bias, accountability, and transparency from a disability perspective, and is intended to be used for advocacy purposes.

The second report, “Nothing about us without us”: a policy maker’s guide to democratic and disability-inclusive ADM,” will provide a framework for involving disabled people in decisions regarding the use of automated systems, with key concepts and practices for meaningful community engagement.

The reports will draw on findings from the online workshop and extend on Georgia’s prior research on political resistance to public sector ADM in Australia. The project aims to support disability-led interventions in this space by sharing resources and fostering international collaboration.

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