The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence

Eduardo Magrani; Paula Guedes Fernandes da Silva

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8

The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence

Eduardo Magrani, Paula Guedes Fernandes da Silva^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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Abstract

In a hyperconnected world, recommendation systems (RS) are one of the most widespread commercial applications of artificial intelligence (AI), initially mostly used for e-commerce, but already widely applied to different areas, for instance, content providers and social media platforms. Due to the current information overload, these systems are designed mainly to help individuals dealing with the infinity of options available, in addition to optimizing companies’ profits by offering products and services that directly meet the needs of their customers. However, despite its benefits, RS based on AI may also create detrimental effects—sometimes unforeseen—for users and society, especially for vulnerable groups. Constant tracking of users, automated analysis of personal data to predict and infer behaviours, preferences, future actions and characteristic, the creation of behavioural profiles and the microtargeting for personalized recommendations may raise relevant ethical and legal issues, such as discriminatory outcomes, lack of transparency and explanation of algorithmic decisions that impact people’s lives and unfair violations of privacy and data protection. This article aims to address these issues, through a multisectoral, multidisciplinary and human rights’-based approach, including contributions from the Law, ethics, technology, market, and society.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law
Editors	Henrique Sousa Antunes, Arlindo L. Oliveira, Elsa Vaz de Sequeira, Pedro Miguel Freitas, Clara Martins Pereira, Luís Barreto Xavier
Publisher	Springer Nature
Pages	141-168
Number of pages	28
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031412646
ISBN (Print)	9783031412639, 9783031412660
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8
Publication status	Published - 2024

Publication series

Name	Law, Governance and Technology Series
Volume	58
ISSN (Print)	2352-1902
ISSN (Electronic)	2352-1910

Keywords

Artificial intelligence
Data protection
Ethics
Human rights
Recommendation systems
Regulation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8Licence: CC BY

91556899Final published version, 1.15 MBLicence: CC BY

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/43675Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Magrani, E., & Silva, P. G. F. D. (2024). The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence. In H. S. Antunes, A. L. Oliveira, E. V. D. Sequeira, P. M. Freitas, C. M. Pereira, & L. B. Xavier (Eds.), Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law (pp. 141-168). (Law, Governance and Technology Series; Vol. 58). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8

Magrani, Eduardo ; Silva, Paula Guedes Fernandes da. / The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence. Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law. editor / Henrique Sousa Antunes ; Arlindo L. Oliveira ; Elsa Vaz de Sequeira ; Pedro Miguel Freitas ; Clara Martins Pereira ; Luís Barreto Xavier. Springer Nature, 2024. pp. 141-168 (Law, Governance and Technology Series).

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abstract = "In a hyperconnected world, recommendation systems (RS) are one of the most widespread commercial applications of artificial intelligence (AI), initially mostly used for e-commerce, but already widely applied to different areas, for instance, content providers and social media platforms. Due to the current information overload, these systems are designed mainly to help individuals dealing with the infinity of options available, in addition to optimizing companies{\textquoteright} profits by offering products and services that directly meet the needs of their customers. However, despite its benefits, RS based on AI may also create detrimental effects—sometimes unforeseen—for users and society, especially for vulnerable groups. Constant tracking of users, automated analysis of personal data to predict and infer behaviours, preferences, future actions and characteristic, the creation of behavioural profiles and the microtargeting for personalized recommendations may raise relevant ethical and legal issues, such as discriminatory outcomes, lack of transparency and explanation of algorithmic decisions that impact people{\textquoteright}s lives and unfair violations of privacy and data protection. This article aims to address these issues, through a multisectoral, multidisciplinary and human rights{\textquoteright}-based approach, including contributions from the Law, ethics, technology, market, and society.",

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Magrani, E & Silva, PGFD 2024, The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence. in HS Antunes, AL Oliveira, EVD Sequeira, PM Freitas, CM Pereira & LB Xavier (eds), Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law. Law, Governance and Technology Series, vol. 58, Springer Nature, pp. 141-168. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8

The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence. / Magrani, Eduardo; Silva, Paula Guedes Fernandes da.
Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law. ed. / Henrique Sousa Antunes; Arlindo L. Oliveira; Elsa Vaz de Sequeira; Pedro Miguel Freitas; Clara Martins Pereira; Luís Barreto Xavier. Springer Nature, 2024. p. 141-168 (Law, Governance and Technology Series; Vol. 58).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence

AU - Magrani, Eduardo

AU - Silva, Paula Guedes Fernandes da

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - In a hyperconnected world, recommendation systems (RS) are one of the most widespread commercial applications of artificial intelligence (AI), initially mostly used for e-commerce, but already widely applied to different areas, for instance, content providers and social media platforms. Due to the current information overload, these systems are designed mainly to help individuals dealing with the infinity of options available, in addition to optimizing companies’ profits by offering products and services that directly meet the needs of their customers. However, despite its benefits, RS based on AI may also create detrimental effects—sometimes unforeseen—for users and society, especially for vulnerable groups. Constant tracking of users, automated analysis of personal data to predict and infer behaviours, preferences, future actions and characteristic, the creation of behavioural profiles and the microtargeting for personalized recommendations may raise relevant ethical and legal issues, such as discriminatory outcomes, lack of transparency and explanation of algorithmic decisions that impact people’s lives and unfair violations of privacy and data protection. This article aims to address these issues, through a multisectoral, multidisciplinary and human rights’-based approach, including contributions from the Law, ethics, technology, market, and society.

AB - In a hyperconnected world, recommendation systems (RS) are one of the most widespread commercial applications of artificial intelligence (AI), initially mostly used for e-commerce, but already widely applied to different areas, for instance, content providers and social media platforms. Due to the current information overload, these systems are designed mainly to help individuals dealing with the infinity of options available, in addition to optimizing companies’ profits by offering products and services that directly meet the needs of their customers. However, despite its benefits, RS based on AI may also create detrimental effects—sometimes unforeseen—for users and society, especially for vulnerable groups. Constant tracking of users, automated analysis of personal data to predict and infer behaviours, preferences, future actions and characteristic, the creation of behavioural profiles and the microtargeting for personalized recommendations may raise relevant ethical and legal issues, such as discriminatory outcomes, lack of transparency and explanation of algorithmic decisions that impact people’s lives and unfair violations of privacy and data protection. This article aims to address these issues, through a multisectoral, multidisciplinary and human rights’-based approach, including contributions from the Law, ethics, technology, market, and society.

KW - Artificial intelligence

KW - Data protection

KW - Ethics

KW - Human rights

KW - Recommendation systems

KW - Regulation

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SN - 9783031412639

SN - 9783031412660

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SP - 141

EP - 168

BT - Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law

A2 - Antunes, Henrique Sousa

A2 - Oliveira, Arlindo L.

A2 - Sequeira, Elsa Vaz de

A2 - Freitas, Pedro Miguel

A2 - Pereira, Clara Martins

A2 - Xavier, Luís Barreto

PB - Springer Nature

ER -

Magrani E, Silva PGFD. The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence. In Antunes HS, Oliveira AL, Sequeira EVD, Freitas PM, Pereira CM, Xavier LB, editors, Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law. Springer Nature. 2024. p. 141-168. (Law, Governance and Technology Series). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-41264-6_8

The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

CEID-CRCFL: Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law

Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law

Cite this

The ethical and legal challenges of recommender systems driven by artificial intelligence

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CEID-CRCFL: Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law

Research output

Multidisciplinary perspectives on artificial intelligence and the law

Cite this