There were recently hearings on Algorithms and Amplification: How Social Media Platforms Design Choices Shape Our Discourse and Our Minds at the US Senate Judiciary Committee. These algorithms are created to addict. They attract our time and attention on social media. It may lead to harmful results — less attention span, adverse effect on public discourse and public health and even on democracy itself. These algorithms harness advanced technology.

As we know Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act offers immunity to the intermediaries could be amended.

A piece of legislation in the Senate called Don’t Push My Button has been introduced with Tulsi Gabbard as the co-sponsor. It expects an intermediary with a user base of more than 10 million to get user permission before offering them content based on past behaviour. It prevents companies to access our behaviour and lead us to more of such content. Such excessive content creates online echo chambers and insulates people from other ideas. Algorithms drive people to certain products and services. In fact, it amounts to choice reduction. It thus hurts competition.

Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act is another legislation that has been introduced in March 2021. It expects to hold social media accountable for algorithmic amplification of content.

It is necessary that apart from the US Government, governments elsewhere become alive to the consequences of addictive algorithms.