Four departments: Algorithm recommendation service providers must not use algorithms to influence network public opinion or circumvent supervision

According to the "Netinfo China" WeChat public account, recently, the State Internet Information Office, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the "Provisions on the Recommendation and Administration of Internet Information Service Algorithms" (hereinafter referred to as the "Provisions"), which will come into effect on March 1, 2022. The relevant person in charge of the State Internet Information Office said that the promulgation of the "Provisions" aims to standardize the recommendation of Internet information service algorithms, safeguard national security and social public interests, protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, and promote the healthy development of Internet information services.

In recent years, while the application of algorithms has injected new momentum into political, economic and social development, the problems caused by the irrational application of algorithms such as algorithm discrimination, "big data killing", and inducing addiction have also profoundly affected the normal communication order, market order and social order, and brought challenges to the maintenance of ideological security, social fairness and justice, and the legitimate rights and interests of netizens. The introduction of targeted algorithm recommendation rules and regulations in the field of Internet information services is the need to prevent and resolve security risks, and it is also necessary to promote the healthy development of algorithm recommendation services and improve the level of supervision capabilities.

The Provisions make it clear that the application of algorithm recommendation technology refers to the use of algorithmic techniques such as generative synthesis, personalized push, sorting selection, retrieval and filtering, and scheduling and decision-making to provide information to users. The State Internet Information Department is responsible for overall planning and coordination of the governance of algorithm recommendation services and related supervision and management efforts nationwide. The relevant departments of telecommunications, public security, market supervision and other relevant departments under the State Council are responsible for the supervision and management of algorithm recommendation services in accordance with their respective duties. Local internet information departments are responsible for overall planning and coordination of the governance of algorithm recommendation services and related supervision and management efforts within that administrative region. Relevant local departments are responsible for the supervision and management of algorithm recommendation services within their respective administrative regions on the basis of their respective duties.

The "Provisions" clarify the information service specifications for algorithm recommendation service providers, requiring that algorithm recommendation service providers should adhere to the mainstream value orientation, actively disseminate positive energy, must not use algorithm recommendation services to engage in illegal activities or disseminate illegal information, and shall take measures to prevent and resist the dissemination of negative information; establish and complete management systems and technical measures such as user registration, information release review, data security and personal information protection, and emergency handling of security incidents, and periodically review, evaluate, and verify the mechanism, model, and mechanism of algorithms. Data and application results, etc.; establish and complete feature databases for identifying illegal and negative information, and where illegal and negative information is discovered, corresponding disposal measures shall be taken; strengthen the management of user models and user tags, improve the rules for points of interest and user tag management that are recorded in the user model; strengthen the ecological management of algorithm recommendation service layout pages, establish and improve mechanisms for manual intervention and user self-selection, and actively present information that conforms to mainstream value orientation in key links; standardize the development of Internet news information services, It is not allowed to generate and synthesize false news information or to disseminate news information published by units that are not within the scope of state regulations; algorithms must not be used to influence online public opinion, evade supervision and management, and monopolize or unfair competition.

The Provisions clarify the requirements for the protection of the rights and interests of algorithm recommendation service providers, including ensuring the algorithm's right to know, requiring users to be informed of their provision of algorithm recommendation services, and publicizing the basic principles, purposes and intentions of the services, and the main operating mechanisms; to ensure the right to choose algorithms, users should be provided with options that do not target their personal characteristics, or the option to conveniently close algorithm recommendation services. In addition, the Provisions clarify specific requirements for providing algorithm recommendation services to minors, the elderly, workers, consumers and other entities, such as not using algorithm recommendation services to induce minors to indulge in the Internet, shall facilitate the safe use of algorithmic recommendation services by the elderly, shall establish and improve relevant algorithms such as platform order distribution, remuneration composition and payment, working hours, rewards and punishments, and must not use algorithms to implement unreasonable differential treatment in transaction conditions such as transaction prices according to consumer preferences, trading habits and other characteristics.

The "Provisions" require that algorithm recommendation service providers with public opinion attributes or social mobilization capabilities shall fill in filing information through the Internet information service algorithm filing system within 10 working days of providing the service, and perform filing formalities; where the filing information changes, they shall go through the formalities for modification within the prescribed time. Algorithm recommendation service providers shall retain network logs in accordance with law, cooperate with relevant departments in carrying out security assessments and supervision and inspection efforts, and provide necessary technical, data, and other such support and assistance.

The relevant person in charge of the State Internet Information Office pointed out that the governance of algorithm recommendation services requires the joint participation of the government, enterprises, society, netizens and other parties, promote the fairness, fairness, standardization and transparency of algorithm recommendation services, promote algorithm recommendation services to be upward and good, and create a clearer cyberspace.