Anti-corruption Architecture in the Age of AI

This presentation undertakes a comparative analysis of Australia's anti-corruption institutional framework within the context of its federal structure, considering its preparedness for the evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The purpose of this examination is to answer whether the architecture involving anti-corruption commissions is sufficient for the tsunami of automated decision-making that is about to take place or whether more robust federal architecture is needed. With the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), all nine Australian jurisdictions have established their own anti-corruption bodies. Currently, there is no unified approach to architecture, and no national uniform legislation regulates neither anti-corruption regulation nor automated decision-making by governments.
This presentation examines the gaps and consistent functionality of anti-corruption bodies in the era of Algocracy—the ascendancy of algorithms and AI in both public and private sectors. The emergence of Algocracy ups the ante for enhancing transparency and accountability, which underpin contemporary democratic socio-economic and legal structures that face unprecedented challenges. The Robodebt Royal Commission has exposed the dire consequences of misuse of technology, and the systems that were used did not even include AI. That is why the Robodebt fiasco might pale in comparison to the scale and significance of potential corruption and mismanagement with the further availability of AI.
This research allows an opportunity for comprehensive re-evaluation and potential recalibration of the anti-corruption architecture, advocating for strategic integration of AI-robust regulation. By enhancing the capabilities of these commissions and exploring bodies with similar remit in AI regulation, Australia can proactively address the heightened risk of corruption in the Algocracy era, thereby safeguarding the core tenets of democracy and the rule of law.