Taming of algorithms on the horizon

The Cyberspace Administration of China and three other departments have jointly introduced a regulation, effective March 1, which will regulate how algorithms of internet service providers make recommendations to consumers, thus protecting national security and the legal rights and interests of residents and organizations.

Internet companies have been recommending services to users on the basis of algorithms for a long time. This was a good innovation so long as companies used it to recommend what they believed was suitable to individual users on the basis of their buying habits; users too found what they wanted without spending too much time or energy looking for it.

However, certain companies have been using algorithms to make profits in a questionable manner. For example, some e-commerce apps reportedly observe users' consumption habits and jack up prices of services that are sought regularly. Similarly, some game apps reportedly lure young users into becoming addicted to online games.

Some fast delivery apps are known to set routes and time limits for express delivery personnel in such a manner that the latter are forever rushing, often breaking traffic rules and increasing the risk of road accidents.

There are several laws, such as on data security, e-commerce and personal information protection, to regulate this. However, the problem persists, and smarting from the experience some consumers are telling others not to click on "like" or post comments on apps in order to avoid becoming the target of algorithms.

But the users cannot be left alone to shield themselves from algorithms. It is necessary for the State to strengthen the supervision of online companies in order to better protect the users' legal rights and interests.

The new regulation can achieve that as it says users have a right to know which algorithms are noticing their behavior. It prohibits internet companies from inducing minors into any kind of addictive online activity, while requiring express delivery apps to improve their algorithms for paying delivery personnel.

If the new regulation is implemented well, it will go a long way in protecting everyone's legal rights and interests.