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Virgilio Almeida is a Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He is also Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. Virgilio received his PhD degree in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University, a Master's degree in computer science at PUC-Rio and a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from UFMG. He held visiting positions in several universities and research labs, such as Harvard University (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), New York University, Boston University, Santa Fe Institute and HP Research Labs. His research interests include digital governance, algorithmic systems, AI governance, social and political impacts of digital technologies.

Virgilio was the National Secretary for Information Technology Policies of the Brazilian government from 2011 to 2015. He was the chair of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) from 2011-2016. He was also the chair of NETmundial, the Global Multi-stakeholder Conference on the Future of Internet Governance, that was held in Sao Paulo in 2014. Virgilio is member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is co-author of a new book that was published by Oxford University Press in December 2023: Algorithmic Institutionalism - the changing rules of social and political life.

His list of publications is available at:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sPKpIPwAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao


Publications

Publication
Nov 20, 2017

A Layered Model for AI Governance

​AI-based systems are “black boxes,” resulting in massive information asymmetries between the developers of such systems and consumers and policymakers.


Community

Oxford University Press

Algorithmic Institutionalism

In a new Oxford University Press book, Virgilio Almeida delves into the increasing presence of algorithms in everyday decisions, exploring their social and political impacts…

Dec 18, 2023
IEEE Internet Computing

Algorithms and Institutions: How Social Sciences Can Contribute to Governance of Algorithms

Virgílio Almeida takes a look at the relationship between algorithms and institutions. “Societies are experiencing a transition in which automation increases its role in daily…

Apr 1, 2022
Communications of the ACM

Futures of Digital Governance

Urs Gasser and Virgílio Almeida take a historical look at the evolution of Internet governance to help inform the future.

Mar 1, 2022
IEEE Internet Computing

Cyber Peace and Cyber Stability: Taking the Norm Road to Stability

A discussion of norms in the governance of cyberspace.

Oct 17, 2019
ArXiv.org

Auditing Radicalization Pathways on YouTube

Research from faculty associate paints a comprehensive picture of user radicalization on YouTube

Aug 22, 2019
The New York Times

How YouTube Misinformation Resolved a WhatsApp Mystery in Brazil

WhatsApp and YouTube formed a powerful feedback loop of extremism and misinformation

Aug 15, 2019
Valor.com.br

New meanings of the term "digital inclusion"

What is the impact of digital technologies on deep-rooted Brazilian inequalities?

Jun 12, 2019