A tech expert called on Thursday for transparency in tech giants’ algorithm personalization after lawmakers pushed to legislate restrictions on minors’ access to social media.
“The absence in both bills is the transparency in algorithm personalization,” Jeffrey Ian C. Dy, former undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), told reporters in a roundtable discussion.
“We should be able to at least check these very large online platforms on what their algorithmic personalization are,” he added.
In the Philippines, the Senate and Congress have approved different bills to restrict children’s social media use.
Under House Bill No. 11566, also known as the Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces (SAFE Kids) Act, children under 13 are prohibited from creating or using social media accounts. At the same time, those aged 13 to 17 must have parental or guardian consent.
Separately, Senate Bill No. 2424, or the Safe Media Access and Responsible Technology for Kids in Digital Spaces (SMART KIDS) Act, bars anyone under 18 from accessing social media or other “high-risk digital services.”
While both proposals target social media restrictions for youth, Mr. Dy noted that a lack of transparency in algorithm frameworks could also have implications on media consumption across all ages.
“If your algorithmic personalization is getting out of hand… you should also limit that,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “There must be some accountability there…if it is imposing certain biases, especially if it is ethnic or gender bias.”
“I think Meta has lost a chain of litigation across the world regarding too much algorithmic personalization and its effect on cognitive behavior not only for kids but also for adults and the elderly,” he added.
The proposed policies could also affect the country’s economy, including the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, which uses online networking platforms for back-office management.
“A lot of this should be transparently communicated to mitigate the risk of economic fallout or economic downturn because of too much instability in the digital space,” he said.
ONLINE NIHILISTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM BEHAVIORS
The calls for tighter social media regulations come after three school shootings from June to September killed at least eight students. The online influence of alleged nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) groups is being considered as a factor affecting the incidents.
“I think this law has been discussed for quite a long time already and it gained popularity again because of nihilistic violent extremism,” the former DICT official said. “I think they are using the issue to fast-track this particular law.”
While investigators examine alleged links between NVE groups and recent school incidents, Mr. Dy stressed that banning social media access would not guarantee a safer learning environment.
“If we are talking about preventing nihilistic violent extremism, the law that should be enacted should be similar to the OSAEC (Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) law, which prevents grooming,” he said.
“The OSAEC law specifically makes it illegal for an adult to make unsolicited approaches to a minor, as this constitutes grooming,” he added. “The same provisions should be extended to cover grooming for violent extremism or terrorism.”
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla earlier reported that at least 53 school shootings were foiled by authorities following the shooting incident in South Cotabato on Sept. 18 that killed three learners.
Over 50 individuals in Banga municipality who were allegedly making online threats or “grooming” were arrested after the incident. — Almira Louise S. Martinez