On Saturday, December 5, EFF Associate Director of Community Organizing, Nathan 'nash' Sheard (he/ze), will moderate a live Q&A featuring filmmaker Shalini Kantayya.

Panelists:

• Shalini Kantayya, Filmmaker, Coded Bias
• Isis Miller (They/Them), Community & Events Manager, Black Girls CODE
• Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Senior Campaign Director, Color of Change
• Lili Gangas, Chief Technology Community Officer, Kapor Center

This is a free community screening hosted by SF Film as part of the Sloan Science on Screen program; RSVP is required. Registrants will have access to view this film for a limited time and views must be completed within 24 hours of starting. The live Q&A will take place on this page, and a video recording will be posted here shortly afterward. Visit their FAQ or event page for more info.

Description

This revelatory documentary exposes the ways that AI systems have developed algorithms that can infringe on our privacy and threaten civil rights. From facial recognition software that finds it difficult to distinguish the faces of women and people of color to HR systems that reject applicants with “ethnic” or female names, the impact of these technologies cannot be underestimated. Featuring several women tackling algorithmic bias, the film reveals the unchecked power that is being wielded from the data collected from every keystroke and phone call we make.

“A new documentary by director Shalini Kantayya, Coded Bias aims to dig deeper in how racial bias in facial recognition technology is a much bigger problem than it may seem. Using a diverse set of interviews and examples on how facial recognition software and sorting algorithms are a danger to society, the documentary provides a major case for why legal intervention is pivotal in creating an equal environment for all.” —Julia Sachs, GritDaily

This event is part of the Sloan Science on Screen program, launched by SFFILM in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation — the nation’s leading philanthropic grantor for science and the arts — to enhance public understanding of science through the language of film. SFFILM’s Sloan Science in Cinema initiative includes four interconnected programs — fellowships, screenwriting workshops, awards, and exhibition opportunities — that elevate filmmakers who tackle scientific or technological themes. Both the Sloan Foundation and SFFILM believe that filmmakers have the power to immerse audiences in the challenges and rewards of scientific discovery while illuminating the intersections between science, technology, and our daily lives.