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From viral conspiracies to exam fiascos, algorithms come with serious side effects

From viral conspiracies to exam fiascos, algorithms come with serious side effects

4 years ago
Anonymous $rxtAWepgzY

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/sep/06/from-viral-conspiracies-to-exam-fiascos-algorithms-come-with-serious-side-effects

A mesmerising, unaccountable kind of algorithm – machine learning – is blinding governments to the technology’s often disastrous flaws

Will Thursday 13 August 2020 be remembered as a pivotal moment in democracy’s relationship with digital technology? Because of the coronavirus outbreak, A-level and GCSE examinations had to be cancelled, leaving education authorities with a choice: give the kids the grades that had been predicted by their teachers, or use an algorithm. They went with the latter.