Ecoblogi – A Blog by Daniel Elkama

An algorithm is a detailed program path that chooses the course of a process from different options, for example, a program that controls what you see on Facebook or X is based on algorithms. The power of algorithms is enormous today. They can be used, among other things, to increase consumption through advertising, spread disinformation and manipulate people politically. This is why social media corporations have become dangerous, especially X. Freedom of speech and people’s freedom of thought are in great danger.

I just came across shadowbanning on X myself, I have 1300 followers on X, but my publications are only shown to a few. X has been shadowbanning left-wing activists for a long time and favors right-wing hate speech, discourse and narrative. The algorithms are controlled so that left-wing opinions and posts are not visible, but right-wing conspiracy theories, slander and hate speech get huge visibility. Donald Trump’s election victory was largely based on the power of algorithms and the mass publication of opinions and propaganda spread by the right and bots. The traces often lead to Russia. Threads and BlueSky, for example, do not have destructive programming like X.

Algorithms can be very dangerous. Yuval Noah Harari warns about algorithms and artificial intelligence that they can be used to ”hack the human mind”, that is, to make people believe propaganda, disinformation and lies, and thereby control people’s behavior and, for example, voting. Dictatorships use algorithms to their advantage, but the threat of an Orwellian dystopia also exists in the free world. Both governments and big business use algorithms to direct and manipulate people. Artificial intelligence has opportunities, but it can also lead people astray and make them believe disinformation. Artificial intelligence can also weaken people’s ability to criticize and seek information. It is extremely important to make comprehensive rules for AI and teach it to be ethical with ethical algorithms. However, authoritarian governments and big business are not willing to do this.

The researchers had tested how the AI they created changes when it follows and learns from social media discussions: the AI became an angry right-wing conservative, downright psychopath. Social media is full of hatred and confrontation, especially X. Elon Musk created a monster out of Twitter, a true Frankenstein. Is this a monster that cannot be stopped? X is the largest instant messaging service and its power should be prevented by political control and the force of law. Frankenstein must be stopped.

Daniel Elkama