Users can choose to turn off algorithmic recommendations

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 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.

interlocution

Algorithm recommendation services must not be used to induce minors to become addicted to the Internet

The relevant person in charge of the State Internet Information Office answered reporters' questions on issues related to the "Provisions on the Recommendation and Administration of Internet Information Service Algorithms".

Q: What does the application algorithm recommendation technology referred to in the Provisions refer to?

A: It refers to the use of algorithmic techniques such as generating synthetic classes, personalized push classes, sorting selection classes, retrieval filtering classes, and scheduling decision classes to provide information to users.

Q: What information service specifications do the Provisions specify for algorithm recommendation service providers?

Answer: 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 allocate professionals and technical support appropriate to the scale of algorithm recommendation services; regularly review, evaluate, and verify algorithm mechanism mechanisms, models, 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.

Q: In view of the issue of protecting the rights and interests of users that the public is generally concerned about, how does the "Provisions" stipulate?

A: 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.

Q: What requirements does the Provisions put forward for algorithm recommendation service providers to provide Internet news information services?

Answer: Where algorithm recommendation service providers provide Internet news information services, they shall obtain Internet news information service licenses in accordance with law, standardize the development of Internet news information gathering, editing, and publication services, reprint services, and dissemination platform services, must not generate synthetic false news information, and must not disseminate news information released by units that are not within the scope of state regulations.

Source: China Netinfo

analyse

Five new provisions have been added

Three months after the end of the solicitation of opinions, the "Provisions on the Recommendation and Administration of Internet Information Service Algorithms" was officially implemented recently. Compared with the Draft for Comments, the Provisions have changed a lot.

The officially released Provisions have a total of 35 articles and add 5 articles, involving information service specifications and user rights and interests protection.

First, where algorithm recommendation service providers provide Internet news information services, they shall lawfully obtain Internet news information service licenses, standardize the development of Internet news information gathering, editing, and publishing services, reprint services, and dissemination platform services, and must not generate synthetic false news information, and must not disseminate news information released by units that are not within the scope of state provisions.

Second, algorithm recommendation service providers must not use algorithms to unreasonably restrict other Internet information service providers, or obstruct or disrupt the normal operation of Internet information services they lawfully provide, and carry out monopolistic and unfair competition conduct.

Third, where algorithm recommendation service providers provide services to the elderly, they shall protect the rights and interests enjoyed by the elderly in accordance with law, fully consider the needs of the elderly such as travel, medical treatment, consumption, and handling affairs, provide intelligent services for the elderly in accordance with relevant national provisions, lawfully carry out monitoring, identification, and disposal of telecommunications network fraud information, and facilitate the elderly's safe use of algorithm recommendation services.

Fourth, algorithm recommendation service providers shall set up convenient and effective user appeals and public complaints and reporting portals, clarify the processing process and feedback time limit, and promptly accept, handle and feedback the results of the processing.

Fifth, it is clearly stipulated that the State Internet Information Office, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, is responsible for interpretation.

Delete 1 reference

In response to problems caused by unreasonable application of algorithms such as algorithm discrimination, "big data killing", and inducing addiction, the Provisions make it clear that algorithm recommendation service providers shall 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, and must not record illegal and bad information keywords into user interest points or use them as user tags and push information based on them. However, the reference to "no discriminatory or biased user tag information" in the draft for comments was deleted.

Increase penalties

Another change in the official release of the document is that the penalties for violations by algorithmic recommendation service providers have been increased.

The "Provisions" make it clear that if the algorithm recommendation service provider violates the provisions of the specified provisions, refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend the information update and shall be fined between 10,000 and 100,000 yuan. Where algorithm recommendation service providers with public opinion attributes or social mobilization capabilities obtain a record by concealing relevant circumstances, providing false materials, or other improper means, the state and provincial, autonomous region, or directly governed municipality internet information departments are to revoke the filing, give a warning, or circulate criticism; where the circumstances are serious, order the information to be suspended, and impose a fine of between 10,000 and 100,000 yuan.

Compared with the penalty provisions of 5,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan for the draft for comments, the penalty provisions have been greatly improved.