Meaning of mathwashing | Babel Free

Definitions

Using data and algorithms to create the false impression that a subjective decision or policy was made objectively.

neologism, uncountable

Examples

“This is just one result, however, of a broader trend that Fred Benenson, Kickstarter's former data chief, calls "mathwashing": our tendency to idolize programs like Facebook's as entirely objective because they have mathematics at their core.”

“Many of the people and companies employing algorithms hope that their use of technology in replacement of humans results in reduced unconscious bias. While it would be great if it were that simple, this mindset is often a case of "mathwashing:" our tendency to attribute objectivity to technology.”

“Unintended mathwashing occurs when the algorithm is left unchecked, and, learning from historical data, amplifies social bias. The U.S. justice system uses an algorithm called COMPAS to determine a criminal's likelihood to re-offend. COMPAS has been proven by Pro Publica to predict that black defendants will have higher rates of recidivism than they actually do, while white defendants are predicted to have lower rates than they actually do.”

CEFR level