Algorithmic Biases
Every time you register a new account on an online shopping platform, you can always enjoy a better discount on most the items. Over time, the price of the item will go back to regular and even higher than what a new user has. A study shows that different Uber drivers receive different rates of sharing, even for the same trip distance.（Guardian，2025） Understanding why it happens will lead us to algorithmic biases.
Algorithmic Biases are biases that are usually confirmed as the unneutral influence on users while information is being searched, processed, distributed, and filtered. It will strongly lead to data being misunderstood and distorted. Furthermore, it will affect decision-making and leave a lopsided impression on some objects. It is a serious ethical problem, especially since algorithms are the foundation of our modernized lives.
Why does it happen? Algorithmic is a complex combination of mathematical formulas. It is based on thousands of data points input by the algorithm developer (or designer). Developers usually filter the “noise” (data that does not follow the primary trend from a designer’s perspective) to ensure the algorithm can always produce an outcome that meets its requirements. So it means that, without any rules or relevant legislation, algorithms will necessarily be biased due to the limitations of their designers.
Most popular algorithm provider is pushed by the commercial institution. The government should have a professional advisor in the industry to draft legislation on algorithms. To properly guide the algorithm industry towards a neutral and ethical position.
Reference: Second study finds Uber used opaque algorithm to dramatically boost profits | Uber | The Guardian
