Using algorithms to determine the order someone sees things in is, in my view, a social media company applying editorial content.
And therefore, if their editor (which is an algorithm for Facebook and Twitter) promotes something that’s slanderous or libelous, Facebook should be held to the same standards as an editor who could be prosecuted for that.
Same with someone who writes something on Facebook. Write something slanderous? You are like a newspaper reporter at this point. Facebook promotes it in the algorithm? Now their algorithm is responsible, too.
Facebook, nor its users, have any significant negative consequences for publishing anything that is false or misleading. Until that changes, I doubt the company’s behavior, nor individual posters, will change.
That's not a good analogy. "Editorial content" is authored by individuals working for or otherwise associated with the publication, this is not the case with Facebook where content is posted by individuals that have no business relationship to Facebook.
Your feed is not an innocent random sampling of posts and recommendations from the people and topics you follow.
Facebook does need to be held accountable for the damage done by promoting harmful content. They are externalizing grave costs in order to maximizing their advertising income.
And therefore, if their editor (which is an algorithm for Facebook and Twitter) promotes something that’s slanderous or libelous, Facebook should be held to the same standards as an editor who could be prosecuted for that.
Same with someone who writes something on Facebook. Write something slanderous? You are like a newspaper reporter at this point. Facebook promotes it in the algorithm? Now their algorithm is responsible, too.
Facebook, nor its users, have any significant negative consequences for publishing anything that is false or misleading. Until that changes, I doubt the company’s behavior, nor individual posters, will change.
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