A FAccT discussion says policy failure is not proof that the research failed

o_saja · x · 2026-07-23

The author argues that when research fails to influence policy, the cause may lie outside the research itself. Timing, context, and whether the work connected to the right body of prior work can all determine whether it has any real-world impact.

The post specifically pushes back on the idea that the FAccT community’s research should be blamed for a lack of policy change, saying that such a conclusion misassigns responsibility.

Related event: FAccT Policy Impact Debate: No Landing Doesn't Mean Failure(2 posts)→

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