On Fairness, Accountability, and the Problem with Bias

The disclaimer on the blog post inspired me to read The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken. I haven’t yet finished reading it, but it’s already had me reflecting on accountability, fairness, and the impact of bias in how we judge others.

For me, individuals should be accountable for their actions, and that should remain the overriding consideration. When bias enters the equation, it raises the bar unfairly for some and creates massive space for miscarriages of justice. It’s frightening to think that someone could be deemed guilty just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Worse still, unchecked bias can corrode trust and damage reputations. When there’s already a preconception against someone, how can the system claim to be fair?

Let me give an example. Imagine a politician releases misleading information. Are the people around them, who choose not to push back, equally responsible? Or is the platform that publishes the information at fault simply for association? What about those responding to the information—should they be morally responsible for fact-checking it? And if someone commits a crime, is everyone connected to them morally accountable, even if they had nothing to do with it?

Would we want to be judged by the actions of others, especially those we have no control over? It’s easy to see the appeal of this “guilt by association” approach, but consider yourself in their shoes. The problem, as I see it, is that many people rarely interact with certain groups and therefore assume that “bad actions” result from people simply being “bad.” This view often ignores the social failures that lead up to those moments. It’s like blaming a dam for bursting but ignoring the long-term changes in the river’s path or the increased rainfall leading up to the event.

When we paint everyone with the same brush, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past. As a society, we’re not yet ready to answer complex questions about prejudice when social injustice remains so high. People aren’t born “bad”; we’re all just one poor decision away from doing something we may regret.

From personal experience, I know there have been times I didn’t call out certain behaviours, and I’m still working on that. I’ve often felt uncomfortable or unsure of myself, and I shouldn’t be judged for this hesitation—only for my own actions. We all make mistakes, and we should be held to account for those, not for the actions of others.

So, as we judge others, let’s also reflect on the standards of fairness we apply. Are we looking at each person as they truly are, or are we holding them accountable for things beyond their control? The difference might seem subtle, but it’s fundamental to justice and to how we see each other.