Technology is something that most people use every day. We surf through the internet not fully aware of the algorithms we might be giving information to. Prior to reading this book, I had no information about what an algorithm was, and how it was used against people. Cathy O’Neil gave several examples of how algorithms which she calls weapons of math destruction, target every social class but mainly target people living in low-income areas. This creates a continuous cycle of control over poor people, giving big companies a run with their money. Algorithms have their place within schools, courts, work, and politics. In addition, living in a virtual world makes it even harder to not become a product in a mathematician’s model. It is important to keep in mind that with technology growing each day, so are the algorithms advancing within it. Although wiping out algorithms would create an increasingly fair and justice society, companies are predominately structured off of these business models to keep them successfully running. So how might we as a society limit the amount of misuse and power these algorithms convey? Well, for starters O’Neil mentions a process where modelers take a Hippocratic Oath centering on issues such as misuse and misinterpretations. She also brings up a point that algorithms can be used as a tool, not to be masters of everything. O’Neil talks about how models such as the value-added model are unfair within its complexity, and is something that should be completely left behind. If using data within a school at all, administration should take into consideration of using positive feedback to see how teachers and students feel about the questions being asked and whether or not they make sense. Due to the power algorithms have in today’s society it will be a case of setting aside accuracy and creating models based off of fairness. Ultimately the driving force of these algorithms are people, and as a society we can push away from these models hopefully limiting their power in the future.
I would be interested in learning more about privacy, and how that may be misused within technology more specifically.
ashley.water.blog 