Work

Does Accountability Require Agency? Comment on Responsibility and Accountability in the Algorithmic Society

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: the authors argue that the debate on how to deal with responsibility related issues with algorithmic agents requires a distinction between responsibility and accountability. In this comment to their paper, it is argued that while the notion of accountability as understood by the authors brings some significant benefits it also is ambiguous in an important way. Accountability could be understood as being purely instrumental with regard to general morally desirable consequences or it could be understood as necessarily containing an element of scaffolding for the agent who is held to account. The comment develops the options and discusses the consequences of choosing either of them.

Source: Philosophy & Technology

DOI: 10.1007/s13347-025-01014-z

Author: Tillmann Vierkant

Institution: University of Edinburgh

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,290

Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council