Detection Latency

Decision problem

How long can the platform wait for better evidence before harm becomes unacceptable?

Working model

value of waiting = expected reduction in decision error
                 - expected harm accumulated while waiting
                 - operational and user cost of temporary controls

Separate signal availability, feature computation, model inference, decision queue, human review, action propagation, and appeal latency.

Research questions

• Which harms are step functions, compounding processes, or recoverable losses?
• When can a reversible hold purchase information safely?
• How should review backlogs change automated thresholds?
• What is the correct latency SLO when labels arrive weeks later?

Affected chapters

Chapters 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, and 19.