Transparency as Manipulation? Uncovering the Disciplinary Power of Algorithmic Transparency

Abstract Automated algorithms are silently making crucial decisions about our lives, but most of the time we have little understanding how they work. To counter this hidden influence, there been increasing calls for algorithmic transparency. Much ink has spilled over informational account transparency—about much information should be revealed inner workings an algorithm. But few studies question power structure beneath disclosure As a result, itself can means manipulation used by group people to advance their own interests. Instead concentrating on disclosure, paper examines transparency from perspective power, explaining under disciplinary technique normalizing people’s behavior. The algorithm not only set up some de facto norms, also build scientific narrative its justify those norms. In doing so, would internally motivated follow norms with less critical analysis. This article suggests that simply open black box without challenging existing relations.