Reading 4 - Frank Hu

 This was a very informative and thought provoking article. I usually associate algorithms with mathematics or computer science. It is a topic that is clear and evident compared to the high gray zone when dealing with subjects like psychology or politics. Both psychology and politics can be wielded to influence the public, I never considered algorithms were also capable of doing so.

 The author makes an excellent point, if algorithms are capable of influencing the public, why is the public not shaping their formation. The difficulty in understanding algorithms puts them into the hands of the private sphere, of companies with funding and institutions. If professors at Universities were the sole keepers I would not be concerned, but it becomes a concern when companies with investors to satisfy have a stake in the world of algorithms. Politics are also difficult to understand, as is the formation of medication and development of biosciences as it relates to human subjects. These are all in the hands of public influence, algorithm development is not.

 One possibility for this is that algorithms are relatively new and difficult for people to comprehend as a result. The inherent difficulty is not the problem because as I've already mentioned, politics and biosciences are also difficult. This leaves the "newness" to be the only problem. On that, it is very likely that the public sphere will slowly react to the use of algorithms. Over time there is likely to be laws and processes that allow the general public to influence algorithms without the need for deep knowledge on the subject. In many ways this is already happening. Concerns over data and privacy that will eventually shape algorithms have caused websites like Duckduckgo to spike in popularity. If the use of algorithms in the context of inter-connectivity and data retention decline, then in a way the general public is influenced the shaping of these algorithms. Not with policy but with their attention, money and usage.

                                                     Confused Person by New Technology