Why Transparency Matters

  • Informed use: Explains purpose, data, limits, and updates so people know what to expect.
  • Contestability: Gives routes to question outcomes with enough detail to evaluate suitability.
  • Accountable change: Publishes version and behavior changes so shifts are visible and reviewable.
  • Regulatory clarity: Supports compliance through clear records of data use and decision logic.

When Transparency Is Missed

SyRI was a Dutch government system that tried to predict welfare fraud by linking and scoring data from multiple sources. People could be flagged without knowing how or why, and with little way to contest it. In 2020 a Dutch court halted SyRI, finding the data use opaque, disproportionate, and a risk to fundamental rights. The ruling shows how a lack of transparency and safeguards erodes legitimacy and public trust.

Transparency Inter-Driver Relationship List

The following table summarizes the 14 transparency related, inter-driver relationships. The full 105 relationships can be viewed here:

Note: The convention when displaying drivers Ds vs. Dt, is to display the first driver alphabetically as Ds.

Drivers Relationship Explanation Example
Inter-Pillar Relationships
Pillar: Societal Empowerment
Sustainability vs. Transparency Neutral Sustainability and transparency influence AI’s lifecycle but don’t directly conflict or reinforce, promoting governance synergy (van Wynsberghe, 2021 ) Deploying sustainable AI while maintaining transparency in energy sourcing exemplifies balanced governance goals in AI systems (van Wynsberghe, 2021 )
Human Oversight vs. Transparency Reinforcing Human oversight and transparency collectively foster accountability, enhancing ethical governance in AI systems (UNESCO, 2022 ) In AI-driven medical diagnostics, both drivers ensure user trust and effective oversight (Ananny & Crawford, 2018 )
Transparency vs. Trustworthiness Reinforcing Transparency enhances trustworthiness by clarifying AI operations, fostering informed user relationships (Floridi et al., 2018 ) Transparent AI applications provide clear justifications for decisions, leading to higher user trust (Floridi et al., 2018 )
Cross-Pillar Relationships
Pillar: Ethical Safeguards vs. Societal Empowerment
Fairness vs. Transparency Reinforcing Transparency in AI increases fairness by allowing for the identification and correction of biases (Ferrara, 2024 ) Transparent hiring algorithms enable fairness by revealing discriminatory patterns in recruitment practices (Lu et al., 2024 )
Inclusiveness vs. Transparency Reinforcing Both inclusiveness and transparency promote equitable access and understanding in AI, enhancing collaborative growth (Buijsman, 2024 ) Diverse teams enhance transparency tools in AI systems, ensuring fair representation and increased public understanding (Buijsman, 2024 )
Bias Mitigation vs. Transparency Reinforcing Bias mitigation relies on transparency to ensure fair AI systems by revealing discriminatory patterns (Ferrara, 2024 ) Transparent algorithms in recruitment help identify bias in decision processes, ensuring fair practices (Ferrara, 2024 )
Accountability vs. Transparency Reinforcing Transparency supports accountability by enabling oversight and verification of AI systems’ behavior (Dubber et al., 2020 ) In algorithmic finance, transparency enables detailed audits for accountability, curbing unethical financial practices (Dubber et al., 2020 )
Privacy vs. Transparency Tensioned High transparency can inadvertently compromise user privacy (Cheong, 2024 ) Algorithm registries disclose data sources but risk exposing personal data (Buijsman, 2024 )
Pillar: Operational Integrity vs. Societal Empowerment
Governance vs. Transparency Reinforcing Governance frameworks enhance transparency, mandating disclosure and open practices to ensure accountability in AI systems (Bullock et al., 2024 ) Governance laws requiring transparent AI audits bolster accountability, fostering public trust in government-aligned AI use (Batool et al., 2023 )
Robustness vs. Transparency Reinforcing Robustness enhances transparency by providing consistent operations, reducing opaque behaviors (Hamon et al., 2020 ) Greater AI robustness minimizes erratic outcomes, facilitating clearer system transparency (Hamon et al., 2020 )
Interpretability vs. Transparency Reinforcing Interpretability enhances transparency by providing insights into AI mechanisms, fortifying user understanding (Lipton, 2016 ) Transparent models boost public trust, as stakeholders understand how AI decisions are made clearly (Lipton, 2016 )
Explainability vs. Transparency Reinforcing Both explainability and transparency enhance trust by making AI systems’ inner workings and decisions understandability essential for accountability (Cheong, 2024 ) In healthcare AI, both drive accessible patient diagnosis explanations and transparent model algorithms (Ananny & Crawford, 2018 )
Security vs. Transparency Tensioned Security needs might impede transparency efforts, as disclosure could expose vulnerabilities (Bullock et al., 2024 ) When AI transparency compromises security, it can lead to potential breaches, hindering open communications (Bullock et al., 2024 )
Safety vs. Transparency Reinforcing Transparency reinforces safety by enabling detection and mitigation of risks effectively (Leslie, 2019 ) Clear documentation of AI processes ensures safety, enabling effective oversight and risk management (Leslie, 2019 )