Meaningful information and the right to explanation

Andrew D Selbst, Julia Powles

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article enters into the fierce debate over whether there is a “right to explanation” in Europe’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We argue that the text of the GDPR and the spirit of the legislation clearly support such a right. In particular, Articles 13-15 provide rights to “meaningful information about the logic involved” in automated decisions. This is a right to explanation, whether one uses the phrase or not.

The right to explanation should be interpreted functionally, flexibly, and should, at a minimum, enable a data subject to exercise his or her rights under the GDPR and human rights law.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-242
JournalInternational Data Privacy Law
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Dec 2017
Externally publishedYes

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data protection
regulation
right to information
human rights
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Cite this

Selbst, Andrew D ; Powles, Julia. / Meaningful information and the right to explanation. In: International Data Privacy Law. 2017 ; Vol. 7, No. 4. pp. 233-242.
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Selbst, AD & Powles, J 2017, 'Meaningful information and the right to explanation' International Data Privacy Law, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 233-242. https://doi.org/10.1093/idpl/ipx022

Meaningful information and the right to explanation. / Selbst, Andrew D; Powles, Julia.

In: International Data Privacy Law, Vol. 7, No. 4, 19.12.2017, p. 233-242.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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AU - Powles, Julia

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Selbst AD, Powles J. Meaningful information and the right to explanation. International Data Privacy Law. 2017 Dec 19;7(4):233-242. https://doi.org/10.1093/idpl/ipx022

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