Nijmegen School of Management/iHub
Yiran joined RUNOMI as a postdoctoral researcher in December 2022 to fill a Sector Plan funded position titled “Artificial intelligence and discrimination risks in the context of immigration”.
What is your research about?
I have been working on potential human rights risks associated with artificial intelligence in the context of migration. My focus is on automated decision-making systems at EU borders, such as algorithmic profiling, polygraphs, and emotion detection technologies. These systems collect, combine, and analyze large amounts of personal data for immigration management. However, too complex algorithmic learning and the lack of transparency present new challenges in keeping a meaningful ‘human-in-the-loop’ approach. The recently adopted EU AI Act allows for certain high-risk technologies, such as polygraphs and similar tools, for use in migration, asylum, and border control management. However, it does not offer legal remedies for possible errors of the AI systems. I am also reflecting how relevant policies and practices can improve the implementation of AI systems to better mitigate their potential risks within this context. In addition, my second line of research investigates racial and gender biases in the context of AI-generated images.
What is next for you in relation to this work/project?
Through my postdoctoral research project, I have noticed a gap in social scientists’ engagement with AI-related research topics. There is substantial potential for empirical research to provide further understanding on ‘technology in practice’. In the coming years, I plan to collect primary data to broaden the empirical scope and provide insights into the use and effects of AI systems at borders or in other contexts.
Selected outputs
Yang, Y., Zuiderveen Borgesius, F., Beckers, P., & Brouwer, E. (2024). Automated decision-making and artificial intelligence at European borders and their risks for human rights. SSRN (pre-print). Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4790619
Bruijn, Y. de, Yang, Y. & Mesman, J. (2024). ‘Dutch’ according to children and mothers: Nationality stereotypes and citizenship representation. European Journal of Social Psychology, 54 (4), 813-828. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.3051
Yang, Y., Emmen, R., de Bruijn, Y. & Mesman, J. (2023). Crisis and bias: Exploring ethnic prejudice among Chinese-Dutch children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infant and Child Development, 32 (6):e2462. doi: 10.1002/icd.2462