Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows:

The rapid integration of algorithmic governance within modern public administration promises unprecedented efficiency in resource allocation and public service delivery. Proponents maintain that automated decision-making systems effectively eliminate administrative discretion and streamline bureaucratic procedures. However, an uncritical reliance on data-driven decision frameworks risks institutionalizing systemic inequities across civil society. Algorithms are inherently calibrated using historical datasets, which frequently reflect legacy social biases, structural disenfranchisement, and socio-economic disparities. When deployed without rigorous ethical oversight and human-in-the-loop validation mechanisms, these digital instruments codify past prejudices into technical imperatives under the guise of scientific objectivity. Furthermore, the black-box nature of proprietary algorithms fundamentally undermines constitutional principles regarding administrative transparency and procedural due process. Citizens subjected to adverse automated decisions often find themselves devoid of accessible mechanisms to challenge algorithmic determinations or seek institutional redress, thereby eroding the core accountability framework vital for democratic governance. Consequently, while technological innovation remains indispensable for public sector modernization, it cannot be pursued at the cost of equity, legal safeguards, and democratic oversight. Genuine administrative progress necessitates embedding mandatory ethical auditing, algorithmic explainability, and meaningful human intervention within automated governance systems.

Based on the passage provided above, which of the following statements best reflects the underlying thesis intended by the author?