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The Dark Side of NLP

Bots and fake news

Filter Bubbles

  • Information based on your views, likes, friends (and their views)

Problems

  • May come from a well-meaning but naïve world-view
  • But they create "alternative realities"
  • They tend to amplify misinformation
  • Echo chamber effect. They tend to group people that are alike together

Filter bubbles: examples and research

  • Loads of misinformation and fake stories

Solutions

  • Fact checking - Organisations are starting to do this
  • Education - People need to learn media competency/literacy
  • Tools and technological improvements - Flagging, moderation, algorithms
  • Regulation - Laws, GDPR, Online Safety Bill