Participatory System Mapping for AI Governance via Algorithm Registers

A new paper on arXiv (2608.12166) examines the role of algorithm registers in providing transparency for public services. The authors argue that current registers fail to represent the sociotechnical systems in which algorithms operate and do not adequately address diverse public expectations. Through a case study of a Dutch city's municipal algorithm register, focusing on a decision-support tool for welfare benefits eligibility, the paper proposes participatory system mapping as a method to incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives into system-theoretic safety analysis. The study asks what algorithm registers reveal and occlude about governance, and how pluralistic approaches can enhance accountability. The paper is available at arXiv:2608.12166.