[Air-L] algorithms as infrastructures/archives

[Loup Cellard]

Hi folks,

Anyone can recommend readings helping in conceptualising algorithms as
"old" infrastructures or "living" archives.

I am studying more particularly large-scale decision-making systems that
relies on "old" infrastructures of the state.
Ex: algorithms used to calculate taxes, the work mobility of civil
servants, allocation of students into schools, etc.

I am interested about two things :

   - while algorithms are sometimes defined as innovative and somehow "new"
   they actually relies on "old" infrastructures. (the temporality of
   infrastructures)
   - the infrastructural capacity of the state and the way it maintain an
   opacity on these systems. (the attractiveness and dangers of algorithmic
   transparency)


Any recommendation from infrastructure studies ? critical algorithm studies
? sociology/anthropology of the state and civil services ?

Many thanks,

Loup

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*Loup Cellard*PhD Student - Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies
<http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/cim/>, Warwick University,
Coventry, UK.
<http://www.loupcellard.com>Email : loupcellard at gmail.com
Mobile : +33 7 87 00 84 22
Site Web : loupcellard.com <http://www.loupcellard.com/>
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