AIForensics

Our vision is to apply innovative methods to uncover digital rights violations and provide information to help shape and enforce responsible regulatory policies. We work towards a world where algorithms are accountable, adjustable and avoidable.

Download the 2023 Annual Report (PDF)

At AI Forensics, we look behind the code so that we know the algorithm better than it knows us.

AI Forensics was founded in 2021 by Claudio Agosti and Marc Faddoul. It builds upon the platform accountability activities of Traking Exposed, a project started in 2016 by Claudio Agosti with the help of the Italian hacktivist community.

For seven years, Tracking Exposed demonstrated the disparate and obscure impact of algorithms, profiling, and exploitative data collections on popular platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, PornHub, and TikTok. Tracking Exposed’s pioneering work contributed to the development and maturation of data scraping and data donation methods essential for independent investigations into platforms.

Read the Tracking Exposed closing story on tracking.exposed

Our mission is to apply innovative methods to uncover digital rights violations and provide information to help shape regulatory policies because we work towards a world where algorithms are accountable, adjustable and avoidable. In other words, we are the digital detectives who shine a light on hidden algorithmic injustices, and work to bring accountability and transparency to the tech industry.

DEVELOP TOOLS FOR ALGORITHMIC AUDITING

Collect evidence

Our audits are always data-driven, but the data we need is typically not made available by the platforms. Our tools allow us to mimic user behaviors, and collect behavioral data on the algorithm, using methods such as sock-pupetting, scraping or user data donation. These adversarial approaches allow us to be fully independent from the platforms, and guarantee the integrity of our data.

CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS

Analyse & interpret

We design our methodologies and make sense of the data collected through the socio-technical expertise of our transdisciplinary team and in partnership with other civil society organizations with complementary expertise.

EXPOSE VIOLATIONS AND INFORM REGULATION

Testify

We turn our investigations into insights and actionable recommendations to inform and support policy, advocacy and regulation. We mobilize our large network of journalists and generate high-profile press in order to raise awareness. We regularly provide expertise through congressional testimonies, academic conferences, and other public forums.

DEVELOP TOOLS FOR ALGORITHMIC AUDITING

Collect evidence

CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS

Analyse & interpret

EXPOSE VIOLATIONS AND INFORM REGULATION

Testify

Our team consists of experts from various fields, including computer science, law, ethics, sociology, psychology and communication. We believe that a pluridisciplinary approach is essential in understanding the ethical and social implications of AI technologies. In addition to our core team, we work with talented individuals and long term collaborators for specific areas of domain expertise including when we investigate platform integrity across different geographies and languages.