Technical Analyst on Social Media Recommender Systems

Amnesty International’s Technology and Human Rights Programme (Amnesty Tech) is leading research efforts to scrutinize the role of digital platforms in shaping public discourse. Social media algorithms, particularly recommender systems, have been implicated in the spread of harmful content, including discriminatory narratives, extremist ideologies, and misinformation.

Following Amnesty’s previous research, including the Surveillance Giants report, this consultancy will focus on analyzing publicly available technical data to assess whether engagement-driven algorithms exacerbate human rights risks.

The consultant will work closely with Amnesty Tech’s Big Tech Accountability Team to provide technical expertise in evaluating recommender systems.

Objectives and Deliverables:

Technical Analysis of Open-Source Code:

• Mapping the platform’s recommender system architecture, processes, and mechanisms.
• Identifying different filters, heuristics, and ranking methodologies used to prioritize and amplify content.

Risk Assessment:

• Evaluating systemic risks such as bias amplification, echo chambers, and discriminatory content promotion.
• Assessing deviations from standard industry practices that may contribute to human rights risks.

Audit Methodology Development:

• Designing a light-touch audit framework to verify whether disclosed policies align with observed algorithmic behaviors.
• Recommending tools and techniques to facilitate effective audits of recommender systems.

Essential Requirements:

• Proficiency in English fluency required.
• Extensive experience in reviewing and analyzing large-scale open-source repositories, with expertise in Scala, Java, and Python.
• Strong background in recommender systems, ranking algorithms, and machine learning models.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct algorithmic audits, identifying risks such as bias, filter bubbles, and ethical concerns.
• Experience working with IDEs (e.g., JetBrains IntelliJ, Visual Studio Code) and GitHub workflows.
• Proven track record of distilling complex technical findings into actionable reports.

Source: https://reliefweb.int/job/4131470/consultancy-technical-analyst-social-media-recommender-systems