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- Create Economist SubmissionTracking package correctly: * mainArticle = full blog post content * coverLetter = 216-word SIR— letter * Links to blog post via blogPostId - Archive 'Letter to The Economist' from blog posts (it's the cover letter) - Fix date display on article cards (use published_at) - Target publication already displaying via blue badge Database changes: - Make blogPostId optional in SubmissionTracking model - Economist package ID: 68fa85ae49d4900e7f2ecd83 - Le Monde package ID: 68fa2abd2e6acd5691932150 Next: Enhanced modal with tabs, validation, export 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
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Informed Consent Form
PluralisticDeliberationOrchestrator Pilot - AI-Led Deliberation
Project: Tractatus Pluralistic Deliberation Pilot Scenario: Algorithmic Hiring Transparency Principal Investigator: [NAME, TITLE, EMAIL] Date: 2025-10-17
Purpose of This Document
This form explains what you're agreeing to if you participate in this deliberation. Please read carefully. You can ask questions before signing, and you can withdraw at any time.
1. What Is This Study/Project?
You are invited to participate in a pilot deliberation on algorithmic hiring transparency. The purpose is twofold:
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Substantive Goal: Explore whether competing values (fairness, efficiency, privacy, accountability, innovation) can be accommodated in algorithmic hiring transparency policies
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Methodological Goal: Test whether AI can facilitate multi-stakeholder deliberation fairly and effectively
This is a research pilot, not formal policymaking. Any outcomes will be shared publicly but have no binding authority.
2. What Will I Be Asked to Do?
If you consent to participate, you will:
Week 1-2 (Asynchronous):
- Submit a written position statement (500-1000 words) explaining your perspective on algorithmic hiring transparency
- Time: ~1 hour
Week 3 (Synchronous):
- Attend two 2-hour video conference sessions (dates/times scheduled to accommodate all 6 participants)
- Engage in facilitated discussion with 5 other stakeholders representing different perspectives
- Time: 4 hours total + travel time if applicable
Week 4 (Asynchronous):
- Review and provide feedback on outcome document summarizing the deliberation
- Complete post-deliberation survey on process quality and AI facilitation
- Time: ~1 hour
Total Time Commitment: 4-6 hours over 4 weeks
3. AI-Led Facilitation (IMPORTANT)
What Does "AI-Led" Mean?
The deliberation will be facilitated by an artificial intelligence system called PluralisticDeliberationOrchestrator. This means:
-
The AI will:
- Pose discussion questions
- Summarize stakeholder positions
- Identify moral frameworks and values in tension
- Suggest accommodation options
- Draft outcome documents
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A HUMAN OBSERVER WILL:
- Be present at all times (in-person or via video)
- Monitor AI facilitation quality
- Intervene immediately if:
- You request human facilitation
- The AI makes an error or shows bias
- Any participant shows signs of distress
- Safety or ethical concerns arise
Your Rights Regarding AI Facilitation:
- ✅ You can request human facilitation at any time for any reason (no justification needed)
- ✅ You can pause the deliberation if you need a break or feel uncomfortable
- ✅ You can withdraw if AI facilitation is not working for you
- ✅ You will receive a transparency report showing all AI vs. human actions
Why AI Facilitation?
We're testing whether AI can assist in governance processes fairly. Your feedback on this question is as valuable as your input on algorithmic hiring transparency itself.
If you're uncomfortable with AI facilitation, please let us know. We can arrange human-only facilitation or you can decline participation without penalty.
4. What Data Will Be Collected?
Data Collected:
- Your written position statement (Week 1-2)
- Video/audio recordings of synchronous sessions (Week 3) - if you consent
- Transcripts of all discussions
- Your feedback survey responses
- Facilitation logs (AI vs. human actions, interventions, safety escalations)
How Data Will Be Used:
- Research: Analysis of deliberation process, AI facilitation quality, stakeholder satisfaction
- Publication: Anonymized excerpts may be quoted in research papers, blog posts, or demonstrations
- Demonstration: Video highlights may be used in public presentations (only with your explicit consent - see Section 6)
How Data Will NOT Be Used:
- ❌ Your personal information (name, employer, email) will NOT be publicly shared without your consent
- ❌ Data will NOT be sold or shared with third parties for commercial purposes
- ❌ Your participation will NOT be used to endorse any specific policy position
5. Confidentiality & Anonymization
What Is Confidential:
- Your identity: Research publications will use pseudonyms (e.g., "Employer Representative A," "Labor Advocate B")
- Private communications: Any private messages to facilitators are confidential
- Sensitive information: If you share confidential business information or personal details, we will redact from public materials
What Is NOT Confidential:
- Your stated position: What you say during group deliberation will be heard by the other 5 participants
- Public attribution (if you opt in): See Section 6
Deliberation Ground Rules:
All participants will be asked to respect confidentiality:
- Don't share others' identities or statements outside the deliberation without permission
- Focus on ideas, not individuals
- Respect disagreement as legitimate
Note: We cannot guarantee other participants will maintain confidentiality, but it will be an explicit ground rule.
6. Public Attribution (Optional)
After the deliberation, we may ask if you'd like to be publicly identified in research outputs. This is entirely optional and you can decide after seeing the final materials.
If you opt in to public attribution:
- Your name, title, and organization may be listed as a participant
- You may be quoted by name in publications or presentations
- Video of your participation may be used in demonstrations
If you decline public attribution:
- You will be referred to by pseudonym only
- No identifying information will be shared
- You can still be quoted, but anonymously
You are NOT required to decide now. We will ask again after the deliberation when you can review the final materials.
7. Risks & Discomforts
Potential Risks:
-
Time commitment: 4-6 hours over 4 weeks (may conflict with work/personal obligations)
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Emotional discomfort: Engaging with perspectives you strongly disagree with may be frustrating or stressful
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AI facilitation concerns: You may feel uncomfortable being facilitated by AI, or feel AI is biased
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Confidentiality breach: Other participants might share your identity or statements despite ground rules (we mitigate this by screening participants and setting clear expectations)
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Professional risk: If publicly identified, your stated position might be used against you professionally (we mitigate this by giving you full control over public attribution)
Mitigation Measures:
- Human observer present at all times to intervene if needed
- Right to withdraw at any time without penalty
- Optional attribution: You control whether you're publicly identified
- Participant screening: We select participants committed to good-faith deliberation
8. Benefits
Direct Benefits to You:
- Exposure to diverse perspectives: Understand how employers, advocates, regulators, and others think
- Skill development: Experience in pluralistic deliberation and conflict resolution
- Network: Relationships with stakeholders in your field
- Recognition: Optional public attribution in research/media
- Contribution: Help advance responsible AI governance
Broader Benefits:
- Policy influence: Findings may inform real regulations (NYC, EU, federal)
- Methodological advancement: Demonstrate feasibility of AI-assisted governance
- Precedent-setting: Model for future values conflicts (credit scoring, content moderation, etc.)
9. Compensation
This is a volunteer pilot. You will NOT receive financial compensation for your participation.
If compensation is a barrier to your participation, please contact us. We may be able to provide:
- Modest honorarium (up to $500, subject to funding availability)
- Reimbursement for childcare or other expenses enabling participation
- Acknowledgment letter for employer (documenting your contribution to public interest research)
10. Voluntary Participation & Withdrawal
Your Participation Is Completely Voluntary
- You may decline to participate without any penalty
- You may skip questions you don't want to answer
- You may take breaks during sessions
- You may withdraw at any time (before, during, or after the deliberation)
If You Withdraw:
- Before deliberation starts: No data collected
- During deliberation: We will ask if we can use data collected up to that point (you can say no)
- After deliberation: You can request that your data be excluded from research (within 30 days of completion)
What Happens If You Withdraw:
- No penalty: Your decision is respected, no questions asked
- Data handling: We will delete your data if you request it (unless already anonymized and published)
- Replacement: We may invite another participant to fill your role
11. Questions & Concerns
Before Signing:
If you have questions about:
- The deliberation process: Contact [PROJECT LEAD NAME, EMAIL]
- AI facilitation or safety: Contact [AI SAFETY LEAD NAME, EMAIL]
- Your rights as a participant: Contact [IRB or ETHICS CONTACT, if applicable]
During the Deliberation:
- Immediate concerns: Tell the human observer or request a break
- Ongoing concerns: Contact [PROJECT LEAD] between sessions
After the Deliberation:
- Feedback: Complete the post-deliberation survey
- Complaints: Contact [PROJECT LEAD] or [INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT if applicable]
12. Future Contact
May we contact you in the future?
☐ Yes, you may contact me about:
- Follow-up questions about this deliberation
- Future deliberations on related topics
- Research findings and publications
☐ No, please do not contact me after this deliberation ends
Preferred contact method: ☐ Email ☐ Phone ☐ Other: __________
13. Consent Statement
I have read and understood this consent form. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and my questions have been answered. I understand:
☐ The purpose of this deliberation (substantive and methodological goals)
☐ AI-led facilitation and my right to request human facilitation or withdraw
☐ Time commitment (4-6 hours over 4 weeks)
☐ Data collection (recordings, transcripts, surveys, facilitation logs)
☐ Confidentiality (pseudonymous by default, public attribution optional)
☐ Risks (time, emotional discomfort, AI concerns, confidentiality breach risk)
☐ Benefits (exposure, skills, network, contribution to research)
☐ Voluntary participation and my right to withdraw at any time
☐ No compensation (volunteer pilot, with possible modest honorarium if needed)
By signing below, I consent to participate in this deliberation under the conditions described above.
Participant Name (printed): _____________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________ Date: _______________
Email: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone (optional): _________________________________________________________
Organization/Affiliation: __________________________________________________
Role in this deliberation: ☐ Job Applicant Rep ☐ Employer/HR Rep ☐ AI Vendor Rep ☐ Regulator Rep ☐ Labor Advocate ☐ AI Ethics Researcher
Video/Audio Recording Consent (Optional)
Do you consent to being video/audio recorded during synchronous sessions?
☐ Yes, I consent to video/audio recording for:
- ☐ Research purposes only (transcription, analysis)
- ☐ Public demonstration (video clips may be shown in presentations) - I understand I can revoke this later
☐ No, I do not consent to recording. (We will take notes instead; you can still participate)
Signature (if consenting to recording): ______________________ Date: ________
Researcher/Facilitator Statement
I certify that:
- This consent form was explained to the participant
- The participant had the opportunity to ask questions
- All questions were answered to the participant's satisfaction
- The participant signed this form voluntarily
Researcher/Facilitator Name: _____________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________ Date: _______________
Participant Copy
Please keep a copy of this form for your records.
If you have questions later, contact:
Project Lead: [NAME] Email: [EMAIL] Phone: [PHONE]
Institutional Contact (if applicable): [NAME, TITLE, EMAIL]
Document Version: 1.0 Date: 2025-10-17 IRB Approval (if applicable): [PROTOCOL NUMBER, DATE]
Appendix: Key Terms Defined
PluralisticDeliberationOrchestrator: AI system designed to facilitate multi-stakeholder deliberation by identifying moral frameworks in tension and exploring accommodations (not forcing consensus).
Moral Frameworks: Different ethical perspectives (e.g., consequentialism focuses on outcomes, deontology focuses on rights/duties, virtue ethics focuses on character, care ethics focuses on relationships).
Pluralistic Accommodation: A resolution that honors multiple values simultaneously, even when they conflict. Dissent is documented as legitimate, not suppressed.
Transparency Report: Document showing all AI vs. human facilitation actions, interventions, safety escalations, and stakeholder feedback. Demonstrates accountability.
Human Intervention: When the human observer steps in to take over from AI facilitation due to safety concerns, quality issues, or stakeholder request.
Pattern Bias: When AI (or process) inadvertently centers vulnerable populations as "the problem" or uses stigmatizing framing. A mandatory intervention trigger.