Cocooning yourself, trapped in it, it sounds quite depressed, right? Many people have had this experience.
For example, Uncle Island just chanted "today to do something to choose the topic, think about the hair is off", the video APP immediately recommended "if you want to cure hair loss, use xxx"; a hand slip careless, APP will recommend "these living habits will cause cancer"; just brushed to a certain product on this interface, turn around shopping APP crazy to push you ...
This is typically controlled by algorithms. Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced new regulations specifically governing the "Recommendation of Internet Information Service Algorithms".
(Source: Network)
One
Algorithm recommendation, everyone is not unfamiliar, through the capture of user data, analysis of preferences, to achieve accurate push.
This can improve the efficiency of push, but it is easy for people to be limited to fixed areas and unable to obtain comprehensive and objective information. If you accidentally click on illegal and bad information, you may also be labeled by the platform, similar pushes follow: false advertising, gossip, fragrant gossip, "popular science" fake materials... Whether he is true or false, just "throw in his favor.".
The algorithm recommends backing on massive data, precise calculations, and investing in the user's favor, eating them to death. Without screening, it is likely to suffer losses: some people have tragically encountered fake langs, some people have been "killed" by the platform, and some people have been tricked by fake stars...
On the video website, the "popular star" has a handsome face and the words are obsessed: "I didn't wait for the wind and didn't wait for the rain is waiting for you." On the other side of the screen, "click a little red heart" and "buy a lady cream.".
Some people do not accept brainwashing, but they cannot escape the control of algorithms. For example, the takeaway rider trapped in the system, driven by the platform algorithm and data, the rider's delivery time is compressed, forced to speed, retrograde, run a red light; The island sister once saw the rider fall to the ground, hurriedly erase the blood on his head, and continue to deliver food. Passers-by advised him to go to the hospital, saying "it's going to be overtime."
The algorithm simplifies the red light and road conditions, does not consider the queue and elevator lifting time, the so-called cold rationality behind, is the extreme efficiency of the economic orientation. Some scholars say, "Giving decision-making power to machines carries a great risk of fairness and reliability." Thinking about it carefully, why not be a takeaway brother trapped in the system?
Even more serious are the security issues. If algorithms such as wild horses, fake news, targeted political rumors, inflammatory panic information, etc., it is easy to bring risks such as "public opinion war" and "cognitive war", and have to be examined.
(Source: CCTV)
Two
More and more people see the impact of algorithms and bluntly say that "they don't want to be controlled." According to a 2021 report released by the Internet Development Research Center of Peking University, 70% of respondents believe that algorithms can gain preferences and "calculate" themselves, while 50% of respondents said that they are "bound by algorithms and want to escape".
The management regulations introduced this time have captured many key points. For example, in response to the chaos of the rice circle, "mutual tearing" and "control and evaluation", the new regulations require that algorithms must not be used to manipulate the list, control hot searches, and interfere with information presentation. You know, for a long time, the star team who is well versed in "traffic monetization" has been keen to stir up topics, lead to scolding wars, and mentally control fans, adding a wave of gold worship and violence to the network. In order to correct the crooked value orientation, it is necessary to build a peaceful and stable screening standard in the algorithm.
For another example, now that the gig economy has become a common practice, the protection of workers' rights and interests has been put on the agenda. Groups such as takeaway riders, chauffeur drivers, and housekeeping aunts often circle between orders and praise. Some domestic aunts bent down and busy, too late to eat, rushed to another family at the urging of the system; some directors lamented after experiencing a day of online ride-hailing drivers, "This money is not easy to earn."
The new regulations point out that relevant algorithms such as platform order distribution, remuneration composition and payment, working hours, rewards and punishments should be established and improved to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers such as remuneration, rest and leave. At the same time, it is not allowed to use algorithms to implement unreasonable differential treatment on trading conditions such as transaction prices according to consumer preferences, trading habits and other characteristics.
The new rules also specifically refer to two groups: minors and the elderly. The former has the ability to distinguish between them and is prone to addiction to the Internet or being contaminated by bad information; the latter is repeatedly deceived by online fraud due to information asymmetry. Therefore, the regulations require that information affecting their physical and mental health must not be pushed to minors, and that algorithmic recommendation services must not be used to induce them to become addicted to the Internet; full consideration should be given to the travel, medical treatment, and consumption needs of the elderly, providing intelligent services for the elderly, carrying out monitoring, identification, and disposal of information related to telecommunications network fraud, and helping the elderly to use the network safely.
As a new technology, the algorithm itself is not a beast, the key is to see whether it can be used well, whether it can play its advantages in improving efficiency, allocating resources and even accurate services, and avoiding and restricting its negative spillover effects.
The development of China's digital economy is ushering in a new cycle, at this time, the standardized management of algorithms is conducive to balancing technical design and public order and good customs, guiding "algorithms to good", breaking the information cocoon, algorithm black box and other accumulated drawbacks, and ultimately safeguarding the social public interest and ensuring national information security.
In the final analysis, man is an "end" rather than a "means" and should not be a slave to technology. How to put the algorithm into the "cage" scientifically, finely and efficiently is a new problem that cannot be avoided and needs to be solved urgently in the information age.
Text/Song in the Clouds