The Algorithms Project
The Algorithms Project, started by former Stanford JSK-HAI Fellow Garance Burke and now led by New York-based investigative journalist Georgia Gee, began with support from the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University as part of the Covid Public Info project. It included contributions from Beryl Lipton and input from team members, MuckRock and Outlier Media.
The project aims to obtain information from state and federal agencies around the use of algorithms and other predictive tools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the project looks into the function of algorithms in policy decisions regarding unemployment; release from state and federal prisons and jails; and surveillance, such as thermal cameras and facial recognition. These records are maintained by federal and state governments but typically are not made public without an open-records request.
Documenting COVID-19 continues to look into the use of algorithms amid the pandemic, exploring the extent of bias in AI medical technologies. The project aims to investigate whether predictive tools related to COVID-19 have had an impact on marginalized communities, such as data-driven decisions on testing locations.
If you have information or expertise that would be helpful to this project or would like to collaborate with us, you can email us at info@documentingcovid19.io.
Record Set(s)
Chula Vista Police Department COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: February 9, 2021
Chula Vista, CA
Principal Subject: Chula Vista Police Department Former Police Chief Vern Sallee
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Chula Vista Police Department Former Police Chief Vern Sallee, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 1 to October 1, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (189.6MB, 5572 pages)
Daytona Beach Police Department COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: February 9, 2021
Daytona Beach, FL
Principal Subject: Daytona Beach Sergeant Tim Ehrenkaufer and Former Police Chief Craig Capri
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Daytona Beach Sergeant Tim Ehrenkaufer and Former Police Chief Craig Capri, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 1 ot August 26, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (26.4MB, 753 pages)
Elizabeth Police Department COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: February 9, 2021
Elizabeth, NJ
Principal Subject: Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 1, 2020 to June 6, 2020
Format Details: .pst (162.MB including attachments)
Westport Police Department COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: February 9, 2021
Westport, CT
Principal Subject: Westport Police Department Chief Foti Koskinas
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Westport Police Department Chief Foti Koskinas, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 3, 2020 to April 28, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (92.6MB, 2080 pages)
Georgetown County Sheriff's COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: February 9, 2021
Georgetown, SC
Principal Subject: Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 22, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (242KB, 4 pages)
Battle Creek Police Department COVID-19 drone emails and response
Date Updated: February 9, 2021
Date Added: November 16, 2020
Battle Creek, MI
Principal Subject: Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker
This material includes emails and underlying attachments sent to, from or copied to Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker, regarding the use of drones during COVID-19.
Date Range: April 22 to April 26, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (715KB, 12 pages)
North Dakota Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation Recidiviz agreement
Date Updated: September 24, 2020
Date Added: September 23, 2020
ND
Principal Subject: North Dakota Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
This is the Research & Confidentiality Agreement between Recidiviz, and the Idaho Department of Correction which shows how algorithms and data sharing decisions were made from January 2019 to the present.
Date Range: January 18, 2019
Format Details: .pdf (335.8KB, 6 pages)
Idaho Department of Corrections Recidiviz Data Sharing Agreement on prison release
Date Updated: September 23, 2020
Date Added: September 23, 2020
ID
Principal Subject: Idaho Department of Corrections
This is the data sharing agreement between Recidiviz, and the Idaho Department of Correction which shows how algorithms are used for the purpose of population and release decisions in the state for the period from December 31, 2019 .
Date Range: December 31, 2019
Format Details: .pdf (939.6KB, 12 pages)
