Re: How would "algorithmic choice" laws/regulations impact ActivityPub?

This doesn't need to be hard. "Algorithmic choice" is already the law in 
the EU. Most fediverse services are already compliant, from what I can tell.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj#d1e3257-1-1

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Article 27

Recommender system transparency

1.   Providers of online platforms that use recommender systems shall 
set out in their terms and conditions, in plain and intelligible 
language, the main parameters used in their recommender systems, as well 
as any options for the recipients of the service to modify or influence 
those main parameters.

2.   The main parameters referred to in paragraph 1 shall explain why 
certain information is suggested to the recipient of the service. They 
shall include, at least:

(a) the criteria which are most significant in determining the 
information suggested to the recipient of the service;

(b) the reasons for the relative importance of those parameters.

3.   Where several options are available pursuant to paragraph 1 for 
recommender systems that determine the relative order of information 
presented to recipients of the service, providers of online platforms 
shall also make available a functionality that allows the recipient of 
the service to select and to modify at any time their preferred option. 
That functionality shall be directly and easily accessible from the 
specific section of the online platform’s online interface where the 
information is being prioritised.

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(94) The obligations on assessment and mitigation of risks should 
trigger, on a case-by-case basis, the need for providers of very large 
online platforms and of very large online search engines to assess and, 
where necessary, adjust the design of their recommender systems, for 
example by taking measures to prevent or minimise biases that lead to 
the discrimination of persons in vulnerable situations, in particular 
where such adjustment is in accordance with data protection law and when 
the information is personalised on the basis of special categories of 
personal data referred to in Article 9 of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679. 
In addition, and complementing the transparency obligations applicable 
to online platforms as regards their recommender systems, providers of 
very large online platforms and of very large online search engines 
should consistently ensure that recipients of their service enjoy 
alternative options which are not based on profiling, within the meaning 
of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, for the main parameters of their 
recommender systems. Such choices should be directly accessible from the 
online interface where the recommendations are presented.

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Best,
 Federico

Received on Monday, 20 January 2025 07:47:47 UTC