Users can choose to turn off the algorithm recommendation service! The four departments are clear

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 Provisions require that algorithm recommendation service providers provide users with options that are not tailored to their personal characteristics, or that they can conveniently turn off algorithmic recommendation services.

According to the Provisions, the application of algorithm recommendation technology refers to the use of algorithmic techniques such as generative synthesis, personalized push, sorting selection, retrieval filtering, and scheduling decision-making to provide information to users.

According to the relevant person in charge of the State Internet Information Office, the Provisions clarify the information service specifications for algorithm recommendation service providers.

It is required that algorithm recommendation service providers shall 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 algorithm mechanism mechanisms, models, data, and application results;

Establish and complete feature databases for identifying illegal and negative information, and where illegal or negative information is discovered, corresponding disposition measures shall be employed;

Strengthen the management of user models and user tags, and improve the rules of point of interest and user tag management rules recorded in the user model;

Strengthen the ecological management of the page of the algorithm recommendation service, establish and improve the mechanism of manual intervention and user independent selection, and actively present information in line with the mainstream value orientation in key links;

Standardize the development of Internet news information services, and must not generate synthetic false news information or disseminate news information published by units that are not within the scope of state provisions;

Algorithms must not be used to influence online public opinion, circumvent supervision and management, and conduct monopoly or unfair competition.

At the same time, in response to the issue of user rights and interests protection that the public is generally concerned about, the Provisions clarify the requirements for the protection of user rights and interests of algorithm recommendation service providers.

The first is the right to know about the algorithm, which requires the user to be informed of the situation of providing algorithm recommendation services, and publicize the basic principles, purpose intentions and main operating mechanisms of the service.

The second is the right to choose the algorithm, which requires users to be provided with options that do not target their personal characteristics, or the option to conveniently turn off the algorithm recommendation service. Where a user chooses to turn off algorithm recommendation services, the algorithm recommendation service provider shall immediately stop providing the relevant services. Algorithm recommendation service providers shall provide users with the ability to select or delete user tags for their personal characteristics used in algorithmic recommendation services.

The third is to make specific regulations for algorithm recommendation service providers that provide services to minors, the elderly, workers, consumers and other entities. For example, algorithmic recommendation services must not be used to induce minors to indulge in the Internet, it shall be convenient for the elderly to safely use algorithmic recommendation services, and relevant algorithms such as platform order distribution, remuneration composition, payment, working hours, rewards and punishments shall be established and improved, and algorithms must not be used to implement unreasonable differential treatment on transaction conditions such as transaction prices based on consumer preferences, trading habits, and other characteristics.

Source: People's Daily News

Editor: Zhang Qiqi

Review: Wang Xiaolong

Final Judge: Liu Haiying