Amazon, Waterstones algorithms promote vaccine misinformation
Amazon algorithms proactively recommended a wide range of anti-vaccination, health misinformation books, apparel and other products, according to a new study . Researchers at the University of Washington also found that Amazon's recommendation algorithms made matters worse by pushing users interested in these products at even more related products. In addition, follow-up research in the UK by Sky News found that Foyles and Waterstones online bookstores had been recommending a wide range of COVID-19 anti-vaccination and health conspiracy theory books to their users. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Twitter and other companies are under pressure to tackle the huge volume of online misinformation about COVID-19. System 🤖 Recommendation algorithm Operator: Amazon; Foyles; Waterstones Developer: Amazon; Foyles; Water tones Country: USA; UK; France Sector: Retail; Health Purpose: Recommend content Technology: R ecommendation system Issue: Mis/disinformation; Freedom of expression - censorship
- Date it happened
- 2021-01-01
- Organisation involved
- Amazon; Foyles; Waterstones
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