Ex-Vice President Al Gore recently made headlines with his controversial comments at the Bloomberg ‘Green’ conference, calling for a ban on social media algorithms, likening them to “the digital equivalent of AR-15s.” Gore’s speech, which critiqued the role of these algorithms in modern social media, has sparked a heated debate about digital influence and democracy.
Gore expressed concerns about social media’s echo chambers, alleging that they promote what he calls “artificial insanity.” His argument is rooted in the belief that these algorithms, often seen as biased towards left-wing perspectives, funnel users into narrow viewpoints, thereby undermining democratic discourse and self-government.
Despite the prevalent bias that favors left-leaning content, Gore’s criticism surprisingly doesn’t focus on viewpoint neutrality. Instead, he appears to advocate for a more controlled digital environment where dissent from officially sanctioned narratives is limited. This stance has led to criticisms of Gore being out-of-touch and advocating for an Orwellian control of online speech.
This call for algorithmic control comes against the backdrop of broader concerns about Big Tech’s influence on public opinion and the potential need for regulatory oversight. The issue is particularly pressing considering incidents like the Hunter Biden laptop story censorship during the 2020 presidential election, where platforms like Twitter took significant steps to suppress the story.
NEW: Al Gore says social media algorithms are like “digital AR-15s” and says they need to be banned.
The left hates the 1st and 2nd Amendments and they aren't even hiding it.
“They are the digital equivalent of AR-15s. They ought to be banned. They really ought to be banned.… pic.twitter.com/gB9pMvnwzq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2023
Gore’s comments, while raising valid concerns about the power wielded by social media giants, also highlight the delicate balance between regulating digital platforms to ensure fair discourse and preserving the freedom of speech and the open nature of the internet. His comparison of algorithms to AR-15s adds a dramatic flair to the discussion but also underscores the urgency and gravity he attributes to the issue.
Author: Blake Ambrose
