The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) will ask questions to Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs about the use of an algorithm that is used in the assessment of short stay visa applications (Schengen visa).
This algorithm, called 'Information Supported Decision Making', helps officials in The Hague to determine whether to apply for a Schengen visa of a maximum of ninety days should only be examined briefly or intensively.
A Schengen visa is a visa that allows a person to legally travel to and within the Schengen zone, an area in Europe where the free movement of people is allowed. The Schengen visa is intended for tourists and other short-term travelers who want to travel to the Schengen zone for a stay of up to 90 days.
Rise in rejected visa applications from Surinamese
It recently became clear that the percentage of rejected visa applications of Surinamese last year was 17,4 percent, compared to 5,5 percent in 2017. Minister Hoekstra claims that this is mainly because many Surinamese submit incomplete visa files. However, according to an article in NRC Handelsblad the algorithm would result in a larger number of applications from Paramaribo that would have to be examined intensively. The AP suspects that the profiling software can encourage discrimination.
Questions about algorithm register and self-learning aspects
D66 MPs Dekker-Abdulaziz and Podt want to know from Minister Hoekstra whether this algorithm has been included in the algorithm register. They are also curious whether it is a self-learning algorithm that independently searches for characteristics of people who, according to the Ministry of Health, are Foreign Affairs pose an increased risk and should therefore be studied more intensively. If this is not the case, they want to know which characteristics have predictive value for the final risk score.
Influence of personal characteristics on risk profile
Finally, the MPs ask whether personal characteristics such as nationality, religion, age, gender and ethnicity influence falling within a 'chance profile' or 'risk profile'.
Source: Various media
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