China’s biggest tech companies, including Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance, have provided Beijing authorities with details about the recommendation algorithms used in their most popular apps, some of which have more than a billion users. This is further proof that the Chinese government has a lot of power over the tech giants.
In democracies, it would be unthinkable for big tech companies to give government much data about algorithms, especially since it is a taboo subject and there is fierce competition to develop the most efficient algorithms.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released a list of 30 algorithms from various apps such as WeChat, which is a $1.3 billion super app. The list is still open, so more companies will join it.
In March, China passed a law that forces big tech companies to provide details of recommendation algorithms, and the documents say providers must make sure the algorithms “spread positive energy” and are NOT used to encourage excessive spending, debauchery and the influence of a celebrity-dominated culture.
Recommendation algorithms are very important, they determine what users see first on social media and what goes viral.
The Chinese authorities fear the spread of critical views of the government on the Internet and do not want to risk anything. Over the past decade, algorithms have become increasingly powerful and fueled economic growth, but they have also come under fire as many large companies misuse user data or manipulate what is shown or hidden.
The name algorithm comes from the 9th century Arabic mathematician Al-Khwarizmi (Khwarizmi), and algorithms are basically lists of instructions for performing an operation. These are sort of “recipes,” a series of logical steps that will get you from point A to point B.
Algorithms don’t have empathy, they’re not perfect, they make mistakes, an example would be talking to voice assistants, which, while getting better every year, often give uninspired answers.
We shouldn’t expect algorithms to make important life decisions for us, and we shouldn’t rely on them 100%.
why Because they start with data provided by humans, algorithms reflect our biases and are basically a “photograph” of the surrounding reality.
Sources: BBC, South China Morning Post
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
Source: Hot News RO
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.