Slave to the Algorithm
We live in a data-driven world. When computers became mainstream, society generally viewed them as a convenience that facilitated the process of problem solving and decision making. Today, computers often make decisions for us, often in ways that we cannot immediately see. Slaves to the Algorithm sheds light on this disturbing trend that threatens our cognition, livelihood, and freedom.
Algorithms are essentially the equation for success. The computer code measures the chain of statistical data and generates a profile that estimates the desired end result. Proponents claim such algorithms are critical to the success of business, advertising and social institutions. It all comes down to the infallible neutrality of mathematics, they claim. But what if the data itself is biased?
Algorithms permeate nearly every aspect of our public lives. In terms of industry, it is a useful tool for maximizing profitability. By analyzing the perfect consumer for a given product, companies can potentially increase revenue, even if the data is not entirely accurate.
But when the stakes are higher, the practice can have worse effects. This is the case with one of the film’s troubled characters, a criminal who faces a longer sentence due to a risk-assessment algorithm. By removing the human element from our most profound life-changing decisions, we can easily become slaves to incomplete or biased data streams.
Nowhere is this more evident than on our social media platforms. In an era of international election espionage and fake news, Facebook’s algorithm has received the most attention in recent years. The film focuses on the social media giant as data scientists work to unravel the mysteries of its influential algorithms. In its quest to increase engagement, the company has been criticized for spreading massive amounts of inflammatory misinformation and undercutting the tone of our social discourse.
Slaves to algorithms offer valuable insights into insidious realities. This is an issue that affects us all in some form, and may ultimately threaten our constitutional rights and way of life.
Directed by: Martijn Kieft
