The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a new report examining how transparently Australian Government agencies disclose their use of automated decision-making under the Freedom of Information Act.
Titled Automated decision-making and public reporting under the Freedom of Information Act, the report assesses how agencies communicate their use of automated decision-making (ADM) in government decision-making processes. The review focuses on publicly available information published on the websites of 23 Australian Government agencies that are authorised to use ADM under various legislative frameworks.
According to the OAIC, the report is based on a desktop review of agency websites and evaluates the extent to which information about ADM systems, policies and practices is made available to the public. The findings highlight varying levels of transparency and consistency across agencies when describing how automated systems are used to support or make administrative decisions.
The Information Commissioner has made a series of recommendations aimed at improving proactive disclosure under Part II of the Freedom of Information Act. These recommendations are intended to support agencies in publishing clearer policies and procedures through the Information Publication Scheme, with the goal of strengthening transparency, accountability and open government.
The OAIC notes that as automated decision-making becomes more widely used across government, clear public reporting is essential to maintaining trust and ensuring individuals understand how decisions affecting them are made.