The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, abbreviated AP in Dutch) has developed guidelines to promote meaningful human intervention in algorithmic decision-making. This intervention helps ensure decisions are made thoughtfully and aims to prevent unintentional exclusion or discrimination caused by algorithms. It should serve a practical purpose, not merely be symbolic, and should actively facilitate the decision-making process.
The document provides examples and questions that assist organisations in establishing meaningful human intervention. These examples and questions relate to the factors of people, technology, design, process, and governance.
GDPR rules
Examples of algorithmic decision-making include assessing credit applications and online job applications. However, organisations using these methods must adhere to specific rules, since individuals have the right to human oversight in algorithmic decisions that impact them, as specified by the AP. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) also contains specific rules related to this.
The guidelines are the result of a public consultation that included responses from companies, organisations, experts, and stakeholders.
View the guidelines (English). To view the outcome of the consultation, see the summary of responses to the consultation (Dutch).
