Proving It Is the Data That Is Biased, Not the Algorithm Through a Recent South African Online Case Study
Abstract:
In the recent past, some Internet users questioned the reliability of online news, but not necessarily the role of search engines in programming public discourse. In 2018, South African Twitter users accused Google of peddling misinformation when Google Image searches for the phrase “squatter camps in South Africa” displayed images of white squatter camps. Many analysts blamed Google’s algorithm for displaying bias. In this article, the authors use this example in comparing the findings of six different search engines to counter this argument. Search engines that are diverse in their scope and origin are used to prove that is it not the algorithm, but rather the data that is biased.
AUTHORS
Department of Visual Communication Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria West,
South Africa
Anna-Marie Jansen van Vuuren is a screenwriting lecturer within the film programme of the Department of Visual Communication at the Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology. Her current research includes the history of contemporary South African cinema. Her work has been published in journals such as Journal of African Cinemas, Communicatio, as well as in international conference proceedings.
University of Western Cape and CAIR
Cape Town, South Africa
Louise Leenen is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa. Louise completed her PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Her research focus areas are AI applications in cybersecurity, and problem formulation and modelling. She joined UWC in 2019 after working as a Principal Researcher at the CSIR in the Cyber Defence Research Group. Leenen is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAIR) and leads the research group on AI and Cybersecurity. She regularly serves in various positions on committees of national and international bodies, such as the NRF, BRICS, and IFIP. She has authored or co-authored several journal publications, book chapters, and conference papers.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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