With the development of Internet and information technology, the Internet platform has become the main carrier for the whole society to obtain information, establish contacts, inherit civilization, entertain and relax, and the construction of network civilization is in the ascendant. In the process of network civilization construction and development, algorithm technology has brought great convenience to Internet users, but at the same time, its bias and abuse have also aroused people’s doubts, which has also become an important topic in network civilization construction. How to promote the comprehensive governance of algorithm technology through optimizing algorithm ethics and empower and help build an upward-oriented network civilization? On November 19th, the Convention on Self-discipline in the Application of Internet Information Service Algorithms, initiated by China Network Social Organization Federation at the first China Network Civilization Conference, provided a very useful exploration for solving this problem.
First, the algorithm and algorithm ethics
Algorithm refers to the accurate and complete description of the solution, and it is a series of clear instructions to solve the problem. Algorithm represents a systematic method to describe the strategic mechanism to solve the problem. At present, the deep development of Internet technology and artificial intelligence is promoting the wide application of algorithm technology. Technology is a "double-edged sword". While the algorithm is widely used, it brings a lot of convenience to the society, it also causes ethical problems of the algorithm, which brings new challenges to the current construction of Internet civilization.
Anderson proposed in Dependent Code: Advantages and Disadvantages of Algorithm Age that algorithms can really help us to process a large amount of data, which will bring many visible and invisible benefits, such as stimulating scientific breakthroughs, improving people’s creativity and self-expression ability, and creating new and convenient lifestyles. But at the same time, these benefits of the algorithm are accompanied by many challenges, such as too much pursuit of data and modeling, which will have various adverse consequences such as weakening human judgment, forming algorithm bias and deepening social differences.
Therefore, it is extremely important to regulate the use of algorithms from the perspective of algorithm ethics. Algorithm ethics is based on the unpredictability of algorithm consequences and the value load of the algorithm, with respect, safety, prevention, transparency and friendliness as its basic criteria, and with cultivating the moral imagination of the algorithm design subject and following the value sensitivity as its approach.
Second, face up to correcting the ethical anomie of algorithms and improve the civilized governance of cyberspace.
Network civilization refers to a new form of civilization with the application of information network technology, which has a very wide meaning, mainly including three levels: network technology civilization, network spiritual civilization and network system standardization civilization. The purpose of network civilization construction is to create a healthy, orderly, safe, dynamic and pollution-free "green" network environment. Algorithm is not only the core element of information technology development, but also the key topic of cyberspace governance. Its hidden social attribute has imperceptibly influenced people’s social life.
(A) algorithm ethics anomie infringes on network technology civilization
Algorithms bring convenience to users to a great extent, such as algorithm recommendation to help users filter information. However, some scholars believe that with the wide application of algorithm technology, the autonomy of the algorithm itself is enhanced, and the autonomy of the person as the subject is weakened, which shows a trend of trade-off, and even the subject is hidden. Autonomy, that is, self-management, is the ability of the subject to construct his own goals and values and to make decisions freely and put them into action. This is because the algorithm technology itself is designed as a decision-making system, which also leads to more and more dependence on algorithms in many fields, such as policy making, social services, medical health, media communication, etc., while users’ own rights and interests such as choice and informed rights are infringed.
(B) algorithm ethics anomie pollution network spiritual civilization
Because the algorithm design mode depends on the existing social mode and the designer’s social cognition to a great extent, the algorithm design is often the reappearance of the current social mode and the designer’s thinking, which often substitutes the inherent prejudice and discrimination of society and designers, thus causing algorithm discrimination. However, the existence of algorithm discrimination and prejudice not only damages users’ right to know, but also infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of some groups. In addition, the use of many technologies such as algorithm recommendation leads to the increase of the influence of personal prejudice and social discrimination in cyberspace, which leads to public opinion polarization, network violence and other problems, thus polluting the construction of network civilization.
(C) algorithm ethics anomie damage network system civilization
Schoenberg pointed out in "Delete: The Way to Choose Big Data" that "the Internet has enabled human beings to live in a digital circular prison". In this era of big data, "the past is like a tattoo on our digital skin, forgetting has become the exception, but memory has become the norm". While users are living digitally, data records also leave traces. When minors access the Internet and use social media and other applications, their personal information and privacy, such as their faces, names, location information and browsing records, are easily recorded and preserved by these applications, leaving traces of data that are difficult to clear. Even algorithm technology collects and uses users’ information without their knowledge, thus infringing on their personal information rights and privacy rights and other related personality rights.
Third, pay attention to the optimization of algorithm ethics, and build a network civilization that is upward and good.
The Convention on Self-discipline in the Application of Internet Information Service Algorithms puts forward new requirements for the technical subject of algorithms from the perspective of algorithm ethics and network civilization construction. Through summing up, it is mainly carried out around these three levels: first, using good technology to promote the construction of network technology civilization; Second, promote algorithm fairness and promote the construction of network spiritual civilization; Third, implement the responsibility of technical subject and promote the civilization construction of network system.
(A) the use of good governance technology to promote the construction of network technology civilization
Technical requirements such as "promoting innovation and development" are put forward in the self-discipline convention on the application of Internet information service algorithms. On the one hand, the algorithm governance mechanism is established technically, the algorithm governance organization is set up, the algorithm governance system is continuously improved, and the algorithm safety emergency management plan is established and improved; Implement algorithm governance measures, increase resource investment, carry out algorithm ethics review, carry out algorithm security risk monitoring, evaluation and prevention and control, and effectively handle algorithm security incidents. On the other hand, promote design R&D innovation, continue to carry out algorithm research and development, actively master key core technologies, and integrate into the overall pattern of global scientific and technological innovation; Governing the internet through algorithms. Promote the application and innovation of R&D algorithms in Internet and other related fields, and provide better services for national security, social progress and industry development. Promote the innovation of algorithm application, strengthen the application of algorithm in social and economic fields, and thus promote the construction of network technology civilization.
(B) to promote algorithm fairness, and promote the construction of network spiritual civilization.
The Convention on Self-discipline in the Application of Internet Information Service Algorithms proposes to "abide by business ethics" and "practice socialist core values". On the one hand, technical subjects should actively practice and maintain mainstream values, take socialist core values into the core consideration, and abide by social public order and good customs and business ethics. On the other hand, technical subjects should resolutely implement the requirements of guiding opinions, strengthen industry self-discipline, and consciously accept supervision and management; Promote the fairness of information recommendation, effectively deal with invalid and false information, avoid algorithm bias and algorithm application data deviation, improve the optimization goal of recommendation algorithm, and thus promote the construction of network spiritual civilization.
(C) the implementation of the main responsibility of technology, and promote the civilization of the network system.
The Convention on Self-discipline in the Application of Internet Information Service Algorithms emphasizes the institutional requirements of "implementing the main responsibility" and "strictly observing laws and regulations", and requires technical subjects to abide by the law from the aspects of information release, information review and personal data and privacy protection, thus promoting the civilized construction of the network system. First, it is to strengthen the consciousness of subject responsibility, fulfill the obligation of algorithm governance, and assume the responsibility of algorithm governance. Strictly abide by the relevant national policy documents and laws and regulations, strengthen the awareness of law-abiding and compliance, continue to study laws and regulations, carry out algorithm applications according to laws and regulations, and resolutely do not touch the legal red line, so as to promote the civilized construction of the network system.
Author: Special commentator Ji Weimin (deputy director, researcher and doctoral supervisor of Institute of Industrial Economics, China Academy of Social Sciences)
Zeng Leixiao, a master of China Academy of Social Sciences, contributed to this paper.
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