The Trial of Superdebthunterbot

»The Trial of Superdebthunterbot« seeks to explore questions of ethics and accountability in relation to the increasing and often unseen computer automation of our lives.

The work imagines a speculative scenario in which a debt collecting company, Debt BB, codes an algorithm, the »Superdebthunterbot«, to ensure fewer loan defaulters by targeting individuals through the use of big data, placing job adverts on web pages they frequent. Five individuals have died as a result of the algorithm’s actions. The work illustrates the fictitious trial of this intelligent algorithm, and raises the question of who is accountable for machine-learning agents. Can the said algorithm, on trial for manslaughter, be found guilty by the fictional »International Ether Court«? The work is an exploration of the materiality of algorithms and the way in which we can judge their intellectual capacities before the law.

The prosecution and defense speeches were written and presented by two lawyers, Oana Labontu Radu and Laurie Elks, and TV actor Mark Frost played the role of the judge in front of a jury made up of volunteers. The film was shot at Southwark Crown Court, London.