Auditing for Accountability: Considerations for Meaningful Systems Transparency

Speaker: Prof. Jat SINGH
Research Centre for Trustworthy Data Science & Security
University Alliance Ruhr
and
Principal Research Associate
Department of Computer Science and Technology
University of Cambridge

Title: Auditing for Accountability: Considerations for Meaningful Systems Transparency

Date: Thursday, 6 March 2025

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Venue: Room 4502 (via lift 25/26), HKUST

Abstract:

As technology increasingly pervades our world, concerns about its use and risks are growing. This has led to greater calls for accountability, with transparency seen as key to supporting audit, scrutiny, and oversight. But how do we make transparency meaningful? This talk examines how current transparency practices fall short, drawing on real-world experiences to highlight challenges in obtaining system data, the lack of respect for data rights, and transparency mechanisms that expose information without necessarily enabling real oversight. As standards, policy, and regulatory frameworks increasingly mandate transparency and stakeholder engagement, the talk will outline some key considerations and opportunities for improving system design and implementation to make transparency more actionable and effective.

Biography:

Prof. Jat Singh is a Professor at the Research Centre for Trustworthy Data Science & Security (University Alliance Ruhr) and a Principal Research Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology. He leads the Compliant, Accountable, and Safe Systems research group, which examines how technology can be designed, engineered, and governed to meet legal, regulatory, and societal demands. His work takes an interdisciplinary, socio-technical approach, focusing on auditability, transparency, accountability, security, privacy, trust, and digital rights in emerging technologies. He also collaborates with governments, regulators, and professional bodies on issues of technology governance and oversight.