Hyper-parameter Tuning for Fair Classification without Sensitive Attribute Access in Machine Learning Research

Core Concepts

Proposing Antigone for fair classifiers without sensitive attribute access, maximizing fairness under average accuracy constraints.

Abstract

The content discusses the challenges of training fair machine learning models without sensitive attributes and introduces Antigone, a framework that generates pseudo-sensitive attributes for hyperparameter tuning. It compares Antigone with existing methods on various datasets, showcasing its effectiveness in improving fairness metrics.
Abstract:

Fair machine learning aims to balance model performance across demographic subgroups.
Recent work focuses on training fair models without sensitive attributes but requires extensive hyperparameter tuning.
Antigone proposes a method to train fair classifiers without access to sensitive attributes on both training and validation data.
Introduction:

Deep neural networks exhibit unintended biases towards specific subgroups.
Prior work assumes known sensitive attributes for training fair models, but real-world settings may lack this information.
Methods like JTT and AFR aim to boost performance on disadvantaged groups but are sensitive to hyperparameters.
Proposed Methodology:

Antigone generates pseudo-sensitive attributes using an ERM model's correctly and incorrectly classified examples.
The EDM metric is used to select the best ERM model based on PSA labels' accuracy.
PSA labels are then used to tune hyperparameters for fairness schemes like JTT, AFR, GEORGE, and ARL.
Experimental Results:

Antigone outperforms existing methods on CelebA, Waterbirds, and UCI datasets in terms of fairness metrics.
Comparison with GEORGE shows significant improvements in worst-group accuracy.
Comparison with ARL demonstrates higher WGA with a slight drop in target label accuracy.

Stats

"Antigone outperforms existing methods on CelebA, Waterbirds, and UCI datasets."
"We demonstrate that Antigone improves worst-group accuracy compared to baseline empirical risk minimization."
"Antigone provides higher pseudo-label accuracy compared to standard ERM training."

Quotes

"We propose Antigone, a framework to train fair classifiers without access to sensitive attributes on either training or validation data."
"Antigone uses the ERM model’s correctly and incorrectly classified validation data as proxies for advantaged and disadvantaged subgroups."

Key Insights Distilled From

Hyper-parameter Tuning for Fair Classification without Sensitive Attribute Access

by Akshaj Kumar... at arxiv.org 03-22-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2302.01385.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the concept of pseudo-sensitive attributes be applied in other domains outside of machine learning

The concept of pseudo-sensitive attributes can be applied in various domains outside of machine learning, especially where there is a need to address fairness and mitigate biases without direct access to sensitive information.
In healthcare, for instance, when dealing with patient data that may include sensitive attributes like race or socioeconomic status, the use of pseudo-sensitive attributes could help ensure fair treatment and decision-making without compromising patient privacy. By generating proxy labels based on patterns in the data rather than actual sensitive information, healthcare providers can still work towards equitable outcomes while respecting confidentiality.
Similarly, in finance and lending practices, where factors like age or gender might impact decisions but are not always available due to privacy regulations or other constraints, leveraging pseudo-sensitive attributes could aid in creating more equitable loan approval processes. By using indirect indicators from the data itself to identify potential biases and disparities, financial institutions can strive for fairer outcomes without compromising individual privacy.
Overall, the application of pseudo-sensitive attributes beyond machine learning opens up opportunities for promoting fairness and equity across various sectors while navigating challenges related to data privacy and sensitivity.

What potential ethical considerations should be taken into account when using frameworks like Antigone

When utilizing frameworks like Antigone that rely on generating pseudo-sensitive attributes for training fair models without direct access to sensitive information, several ethical considerations should be taken into account:

Transparency: It is essential to be transparent about the use of proxy labels derived from the data as substitutes for actual sensitive attributes. Users should understand how these proxies are generated and their implications on model performance.

Bias Mitigation: While pseudo-sensitive attributes aim to reduce bias by addressing fairness concerns indirectly, there is a risk of introducing new forms of bias through imperfect proxies or algorithmic assumptions. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are crucial to ensure fairness.

Privacy Protection: Even though no explicit sensitive information is used during training with pseudo-attributes, there may still be risks associated with re-identification or unintended disclosure if not handled carefully. Safeguards must be implemented to protect individuals' privacy rights.

Accountability: Clear accountability mechanisms should be established regarding decisions made based on models trained with pseudo-sensitive attributes. Stakeholders must understand who is responsible for any consequences arising from model predictions.

Impact Assessment: Regular assessments should be conducted to evaluate the social impact of using frameworks like Antigone with respect to marginalized groups or communities affected by algorithmic decisions.

How might the principles behind Antigone influence future developments in fairness-aware machine learning algorithms

The principles behind Antigone have significant implications for future developments in fairness-aware machine learning algorithms:

Unsupervised Fairness:

The idea of training fair classifiers without access to ground truth sensitive attribute labels opens up possibilities for developing more robust unsupervised fairness techniques.

2..Hyperparameter Tuning:

The approach taken by Antigone in tuning hyperparameters based on EDM metrics provides a systematic way
to optimize both accuracy and fairness simultaneously.
3..Ethical Considerations:

The emphasis on considering ethical implications such as transparency and privacy protection will likely become
more prominent in future fairness-aware algorithms.
4..Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Collaborating with experts from diverse fields such as ethics,
sociology,and law will be vital for ensuring that future algorithms prioritize societal well-being alongside technical performance.
5..Real-world Applications
- The practical success of Antigone in improving fairness metrics while maintaining competitive accuracy levels will inspire further research into similar methodologies that balance efficiency with equity in real-world applications.