Accountable Software Systems (Dagstuhl Seminar 23411)

Abstract

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 23411 "Accountable Software Systems". The seminar brought together an interdisciplinary group of researchers from the fields of formal methods, machine learning, philosophy, political science, law, and policy studies to address the critical issue of accountability in the development and deployment of software systems. As these systems increasingly assume roles within safety-critical domains of society, including transportation, healthcare, recruitment, and the judiciary, the seminar aimed to explore the multifaceted concept of accountability, its significance, and its implementation challenges in this context.
During the seminar, experts engaged deeply in discussions, presentations, and collaborative sessions, focusing on key themes such as the application of formal tools in socio-technical accountability, the impact of computing infrastructures on software accountability, and the innovation of formal languages and models to improve accountability measures. This interdisciplinary dialogue underscored the complexities involved in defining and operationalizing accountability, especially in light of technological advancements and their societal implications. The participants of the seminar reached a consensus on the pressing need for ongoing research and cross-disciplinary efforts to develop effective accountability mechanisms, highlighting the critical role of integrating socio-technical approaches and formal methodologies to enhance the accountability of autonomous systems and their contributions to society.