by Maria Bianca Armiento
On 8 April 2020, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Recommendation on the human rights impact of algorithmic systems.
Algorithmic systems are defined as those «applications that, often using mathematical optimisation techniques, perform one or more tasks such as gathering, combining, cleaning, sorting, classifying and inferring data, as well as selection, prioritisation, the making of recommendations and decision making».
States are required to ensure, among others, transparency and accountability of the systems, data management, analysis and modelling, consultation and precautionary measures such as human rights impact assessment.