We’re excited to announce our partnership with Microsoft as part of the Christchurch Call Initiative on Algorithmic Outcomes, a critical multistakeholder collaboration that aims to better understand how AI systems recommend content online while protecting user privacy and platform security.
The Partnership
Microsoft pledged $500,000 to support research using privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) to study the societal impact of AI-powered recommendation engines. This partnership brings together Microsoft’s leadership in responsible AI development with OpenMined’s expertise in privacy-preserving machine learning.
Why This Matters
The tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand, highlighted the urgent need to understand how online content spreads and impacts our communities. While recommendation systems provide valuable benefits, they can also play a role in the spread of harmful content.
Our Approach
Through this partnership, we’ll work to:
- Develop privacy-preserving frameworks that enable researchers to study recommendation systems while protecting sensitive data
- Create “proof of function” pilot projects demonstrating how PETs can enhance algorithmic accountability
- Enable meaningful collaboration between industry and academic researchers without compromising privacy or security
Part of a Broader Initiative
This collaboration is part of a larger partnership that includes Twitter, the governments of New Zealand and the United States, and other stakeholders committed to understanding and improving online content recommendation systems.
Looking Forward
We believe this partnership represents a significant step forward in demonstrating how privacy-enhancing technologies can help address complex societal challenges. By enabling secure and privacy-preserving research access, we can better understand the impact of AI systems while protecting user privacy and platform security.
We’re honored to work with Microsoft and other partners on this crucial initiative. Together, we can advance both the technical capabilities and ethical implementation of AI systems that shape our online experiences.