[Paper Review] Discrimination, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic decision-making

Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius|ArXiv.org|Oct 15, 2025

Impact of AI and Big Data on Business and Society156 citations

TL;DR

This paper discusses discrimination risks in AI and algorithmic decision-making and outlines policy considerations for Europe.

ABSTRACT

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a huge impact on our personal lives and also on our democratic society as a whole. While AI offers vast opportunities for the benefit of people, its potential to embed and perpetuate bias and discrimination remains one of the most pressing challenges deriving from its increasing use. This new study, which was prepared by Prof. Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius for the Anti-discrimination Department of the Council of Europe, elaborates on the risks of discrimination caused by algorithmic decision-making and other types of artificial intelligence (AI).

Motivation & Objective

• Examine how AI and algorithmic decision-making can lead to discrimination.
• Identify risk factors and categories of bias in automated decisions.
• Provide policy-oriented analysis for the Council of Europe’s Anti-discrimination Department.

Proposed method

• Policy-focused analysis prepared for the Council of Europe Anti-discrimination Department.
• Elaboration of discrimination risks associated with algorithmic decision-making and AI.
• Discussion of potential governance and regulatory responses for democratic societies.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What discrimination risks are associated with algorithmic decision-making and AI?
• RQ2 What policy responses and safeguards are appropriate to mitigate these risks for European democracies.

Key findings

• Not specified in the provided abstract.