Participation is not a Design Fix for Machine Learning

This paper critically examines existing modes of participation in design practice and machine learning. Cautioning against 'participation-washing', it suggests that the ML community must become attuned to possibly exploitative and extractive forms of community involvement and shift away from the prerogatives of context-independent scalability.

Participation is not a Design Fix for Machine Learning Mona Sloane * 1 Emanuel Moss * 2 Olaitan Awomolo * 3 Laura Forlano * 4 Abstract consent and is based on (post-)colonial structures of global This paper critically examines existing modes power (Peet & Hartwick); in the corporate sector where of participation in design practice and machine ”users” are invited into ”co-creation” sessions in order to learning. Cautioning against ”participation- create new…

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