Tool checks whether websites have built-in prejudice

From reports Amazon's same-day delivery is less available in black neighbourhoods to Microsoft's'racist' chatbots, signs of online prejudice are becoming increasingly common. Scientists now say they can spot racist and sexist software using a code that finds out if there is implicit bias in algorithms running on websites and apps. By changing specific variables - such as race, gender or other distinctive traits - the online code Themis claims to know if data is discriminating against specific people. Previous research suggests technology is generally becoming racist and sexist as it learns from humans - and as a result, hindering its ability to make balanced decisions. Themis is a freely available code that mimics the process of entering data - such as making a loan application - into a given website or app.