Are algorithms hacking our thoughts?

Techcrunch.com ^ | 5-20-2018 | Adriana Stan, Mihai Botarel

[spintreebob]

Algorithms are quite different from brainwashing. In brainwashing, the brainwasher intentionally does it to the brainwashee...or the brainwashee does it to himself as in the case of Romney who said he was brainwashed.

Algorithms always contain a starting point that is an assumption. Currently, the authors of the algorithm most often are not self-aware of their assumptions. In Signal and Noise Nate warned against making unexamined assumptions. Then Nate and all his fans did exactly in their 2016 polls, resulting in grossly inaccurate polls.

I see it in health statistics, which I watch closely for my work. There are unexamined assumptions that x is good and true and y is bad and false. The logic of the search for data is then based on cherry picking data that proves the assumption.

Some people think government is the solution. Some think government is the problem ... Reagan.

Look at the FDA, EPA, CBO, CDC or any Federal agency. The un-examined assumption behind every single one of their algorithms is that the government is the solution.

Repeatedly, Conservatives/libertarians are accepting the unexamined premise and don’t even seem to be aware of it.

Of course, algorithms in academia and other originators of data, information and studies also make unexamined premises that tilt the numbers.