Algorithms are now routinely used in decision-making; they are potent components in decisions that affect the lives of individuals and the activities of public and private institutions. Although use of algorithms has many benefits, a number of problems have been identified with their use in certain domains, most notably in domains where safety and fairness are important. Awareness of these problems has generated public discourse calling for algorithmic accountability. However, the current discourse focuses largely on algorithms and their opacity. I argue that this reflects a narrow and inadequate understanding of accountability. I sketch an account of accountability that takes accountability to be a social practice constituted by actors, forums, shared beliefs and norms, performativity, and sanctions, and aimed at putting constraints on the exercise of power. On this account, algorithmic accountability is not yet constituted; it is in the making. The account brings to light a set of questions that must be addressed to establish it.

算法现在经常用于决策；它们是影响个人生活以及公共和私营机构活动的决策中的重要组成部分。尽管使用算法有很多好处，但在某些领域使用算法时发现了许多问题，尤其是在安全性和公平性很重要的领域。对这些问题的认识引发了公众对算法问责制的呼吁。然而，当前的讨论主要集中在算法及其不透明性上。我认为这反映了对问责制的狭隘和不充分的理解。我概述了问责制，将问责制视为一种由行为者、论坛、共同信仰和规范、表演性和制裁构成的社会实践，并旨在限制权力的行使。因此，尚未构成算法问责制；它正在制作中。该帐户揭示了一系列必须解决的问题才能建立它。