Algorithmic Silence" Disinformation and the Failure of Democracy, Late 2010s

Algorithmic Silence" Disinformation and the Failure of Democracy, Late 2010s

In the late 2010s, social networking sites expanded people's speech space, but also became a device for spreading disinformation and inflammatory content. Especially after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, allegations of intervention by foreign powers increased, and Congress demanded explanations from tech companies. The question, "Can the government create an algorithm to crack down on disinformation?" was emblematic. But the companies' answers were met with silence or vague language, and their avoidance of social responsibility drew criticism.

As for measures against child pornography, they had achieved results because the illegality was clear and could be detected by hash matching of known images. Disinformation, on the other hand, is ill-defined and can be evaluated depending on context, time, and political position. The attack is also dynamic, and the sender can slip through detection by paraphrasing, imaging, or memeing. This made it difficult to discern by algorithm alone, and misjudgment could stifle legitimate speech.

Related technologies include content analysis to match claims with verified articles and official documents, checking the consistency of numerical values and proper nouns, and checking the authenticity of images and videos. Also, attempts to detect abnormalities in diffusion patterns and to detect cooperative manipulation through network analysis were in progress. In addition, proof of content history that records modification history and monitoring of bias through transparency reporting and external audits were also proposed.

In short, whereas the child pornography countermeasures worked through high-speed matching of known patterns, the countermeasures against disinformation required organizing definitions, contextual analysis, tracking diffusion routes, ensuring transparency, and manual review. The congressional pursuit exposed both technical challenges and political tensions, further deepening the disconnect between Silicon Valley and Washington. The silence surrounding disinformation remains a fundamental question about democracy and freedom.