[kictanet] Is Facebook biased on its newsfeed?

Ahmed Mohamed Maawy ultimateprogramer at gmail.com
Sat May 14 08:06:49 EAT 2016 

Let us look at it this way:

   1. There is a "trending team" at Facebook (People)
   2. Who get access to the dashboard that displays trending items on
   facebook (Perfect, algorithm works and the trending team have access to
   real time trending news items).
   3. And *suppress* what needs to be shown (Which is sad, the algorithm
   did a good job but this person somewhere decides its not going to be shown.
   Person = Boss, Algorithm = Messenger).


On Sat, May 14, 2016 at 8:02 AM, James Kagwe via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Machine learning can be considered subordinate to algorithm in this
> context. Remember an application must have some elements of algorithm but
> not neccesarily apply the principles of machine learning. In my view it's
> the algorithm at fault here.
>
> My thoughts.
>
> Rgds,
> James Kagwe
> On May 12, 2016 6:57 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> I agree there would not be Machine Learning without Algorithms. But lets
>> examine the nature of a lie. A lie contains an element of "data" in it.
>> Algorithms are computational in nature, so if fed with "lies" .. that's
>> where the problem is.
>>
>> My point is we cant really squarely blame the Algorithm, we have to blame
>> the data (Algorithms + Data = Machine Learning).
>>
>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:50 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Exactly Ahmed. :-)
>>>
>>> So would you agree that without algorithms there will be no machine
>>> learning?
>>>
>>> Ali Hussein
>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>> On May 12, 2016 6:48 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy" <
>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I may be wrong anyway Ali. But maybe its the way I see these 2
>>>> disciplines.
>>>>
>>>> But I think Algorithms are more of computations and logic operations.
>>>> Machine Learning gives these Algorithms the decision making capabilities
>>>> and comprise of a set of algorithms + historic data with the capability to
>>>> make predicitions.
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:44 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Ahmed
>>>>>
>>>>> I stand educated. :-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ali Hussein
>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>> On May 12, 2016 6:42 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy" <
>>>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Ali, This is what I mean:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Algorithms: a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations
>>>>>> or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Machine Learning: Machine learning is a subfield of computer science
>>>>>> that evolved from the study of pattern recognition and computational
>>>>>> learning theory in artificial intelligence. In 1959, Arthur Samuel defined
>>>>>> machine learning as a "Field of study that gives computers the ability to
>>>>>> learn without being explicitly programmed"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:36 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ahmed
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Machine learning doesn't happen in a vacuum...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>> *Principal*
>>>>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and
>>>>>>> thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 12 May 2016, at 6:10 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <
>>>>>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I think there is a need to differential Machine Learning and
>>>>>>> Algorithms fellows. Machine Learning is where the problem is :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 5:55 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <
>>>>>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Its not the algorithms Ali, its the Machine Learning process :)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 5:42 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Ahmed
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You obviously missed the story of the Microsoft algorithm that was
>>>>>>>>> taught to behave like a racist.   :-)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/24/11297050/tay-microsoft-chatbot-racist
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> My point is that we do seem to forget that all these algorithms
>>>>>>>>> are created by humans who have biases.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Google is in trouble for deliberately skewing their algorithms to
>>>>>>>>> benefit their own products. Not sure this is wrong but the European
>>>>>>>>> regulators seem to think so to the extent of threatening them with a 10% of
>>>>>>>>> revenue fine..
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> With great power comes great responsibility - so goes the adage..
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>>>> *Principal*
>>>>>>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>>>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and
>>>>>>>>> thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 12 May 2016, at 5:20 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <
>>>>>>>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> There are a number of elements at play here:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>    1. Obviously to a great degree this algorithm has massively
>>>>>>>>>    helped Facebook. Not that I am totally on their side, what I mean to say is
>>>>>>>>>    that lets give credit where its due. Without this algorithm we would have
>>>>>>>>>    seen massive fallout and loss of klout. This is something Twitter did not
>>>>>>>>>    figure out so well. LinkedIn is still the place professionals like to hang
>>>>>>>>>    out, but its not the place professionals like to stay. Just stating how it
>>>>>>>>>    came to be that Facebook is air and air is life (so to speak).
>>>>>>>>>    2. If truly there is a bias to all this (which I am yes, yet
>>>>>>>>>    to comprehend how this bias is visible) it can mean 2 things:
>>>>>>>>>       1. Either content producers are not building influence
>>>>>>>>>       better than those who rank at the top. Or
>>>>>>>>>       2. If not, there is a genuine market opportunity in this
>>>>>>>>>       gap.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> But algorithms are algorithms, and my experience developing
>>>>>>>>> algorithms tells me computer algorithms can not easily be twisted to lie,
>>>>>>>>> especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> But these are all books on their own anyway.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Just my 2 cents.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 4:52 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Listers
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> This mail is coped from the Fortune.com <http://fortune.com>
>>>>>>>>>> Data Sheet.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The “Trending” topics section of Facebook seems such a trivial
>>>>>>>>>> thing, and in many ways it is. It looks and feels like an
>>>>>>>>>> afterthought—ironically, it started as an attempt to copy Twitter
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL3RlY2hjcnVuY2guY29tLzIwMTQvMDEvMTYvZmFjZWJvb2stdHJlbmRpbmcv/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aBf20eece1>—and
>>>>>>>>>> many users probably don’t even notice it’s there. But now, it has triggered
>>>>>>>>>> a national discussion around bias and the power of social platforms.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> In case you missed the brouhaha, it started with a report from
>>>>>>>>>> Gizmodo that profiled
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL3dhbnQtdG8ta25vdy13aGF0LWZhY2Vib29rLXJlYWxseS10aGlua3Mtb2Ytam91cm5hbGlzdHMtMTc3MzkxNjExNw/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aB4ee70a20>a
>>>>>>>>>> team of anonymous journalists working at Facebook who curate the news that
>>>>>>>>>> shows up in the Trending section. A subsequent report quoted one of the
>>>>>>>>>> journalists as saying the team routinely removed certain
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL2Zvcm1lci1mYWNlYm9vay13b3JrZXJzLXdlLXJvdXRpbmVseS1zdXBwcmVzc2VkLWNvbnNlci0xNzc1NDYxMDA2/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aBf141c2b3> right-wing
>>>>>>>>>> political sites from the section, even when the social network’s data
>>>>>>>>>> showed they were trending.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The revelation seemed harmless enough, at first: Journalists
>>>>>>>>>> hired to edit things were actually editing them! But the comment soon
>>>>>>>>>> snowballed into a debate over Facebook’s role in news consumption, and
>>>>>>>>>> whether its sheer size and influence brings with it some level of
>>>>>>>>>> responsibility.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Facebook responded to the story
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3RzdG9ja3kvcG9zdHMvMTAxMDA4NTMwODIzMzc5NTg/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aBf49ae890> by
>>>>>>>>>> saying that its policy is to remain as neutral as possible editorially, and
>>>>>>>>>> that it will look into reports of misbehavior. Then it issued a second,
>>>>>>>>>> even more heartfelt response, after the Senate Commerce Committee sent
>>>>>>>>>> a letter
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL3NlbmF0ZS1nb3AtbGF1bmNoZXMtaW5xdWlyeS1pbnRvLWZhY2Vib29rLXMtbmV3cy1jdXJhdGktMTc3NTc2NzAxOA/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aB1d911177> asking
>>>>>>>>>> the company to answer some questions around political influence and the
>>>>>>>>>> Trending section.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The real issue, of course, isn’t the tiny section of the Facebook
>>>>>>>>>> home page that follows trending topics. It’s the fact that the kind of
>>>>>>>>>> editorial selection those journalists engaged in is happening every minute
>>>>>>>>>> of every day on the main news feed, courtesy of the Facebook ranking
>>>>>>>>>> algorithm. And that algorithm, since it is programmed by human beings,
>>>>>>>>>> inevitably contains biases of all kinds.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The bottom line is that Facebook is more than just a social
>>>>>>>>>> network where people exchange photos of their pets—it is the
>>>>>>>>>> largest and most influential
>>>>>>>>>> <http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL3d3dy52b3guY29tLzIwMTYvNS8xMC8xMTY0MDE0MC9mYWNlYm9vay1tZWRpYS1pbmZsdWVuY2U/55ba80258cc2b2e72d8b457aBca65e309> media
>>>>>>>>>> entity the world has ever seen. The sooner Facebook acknowledges that, and
>>>>>>>>>> becomes part of the discussion around how it can manage its social
>>>>>>>>>> responsibilities, the better off we will all be.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>>>>> *Principal*
>>>>>>>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>>>>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and
>>>>>>>>>> thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>>>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
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>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>>>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>>>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>>>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>>>
>>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>>>> ajplus.net
>>>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>
>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>> ajplus.net
>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>
>> swahilibox.co.ke
>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>> startupgrind.com
>> ajplus.net
>> www.everylayer.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kagwejg%40gmail.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>



-- 
*Ahmed Maawy*
Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
Ambassador - Open Knowledge
Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
(KE) +254 714 960 627
Skype: ultimateprogramer

swahilibox.co.ke
www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
startupgrind.com
ajplus.net
www.everylayer.com
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