Vera Jourova, the European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, spoke out against disinformation on social media. She suggested new ethical guidelines for developing algorithms.
In an interview with Politico, she expressed concern over the impact of social media on politics, and stated that ‘trust must be restored in science, in governments and in society’. Among the actions that she wishes to take is demanding more accountability of creators of algorithms and encouraging companies involved to become a part of a ‘predictable and transparent system’. In this context, she used the term ‘mindful coding’, which implies that coders and IT experts would focus on a more responsible approach when designing algorithms, comparable to that of an architect who focuses on safety, as well as functionality, when constructing buildings to house people.
The article is available on Politico’s website.
