Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial far-right political bias in Germany ahead of a federal election that takes place Sunday, according to new research carried out by Global Witness.

The non-government organization (NGO) undertook an analysis of social media content displayed to new users via algorithmically sorted “For You” feeds — finding both platforms skewed heavily toward amplifying content that favors the far-right AfD party in algorithmically programmed feeds.

Global Witness’ tests identified the most extreme bias on TikTok, where 78% of the political content that was algorithmically recommended to its test accounts, and came from accounts the test users did not follow, was supportive of the AfD party. (It notes this figure far exceeds the level of support the party is achieving in current polling, where it attracts backing from around 20% of German voters.)

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  • Prior_Industry
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    121 day ago

    What’s stopping the likes being boosted by bots? And who’s to say who’s controlling the bots. Elon’s Musks profile it has been suggested is mostly followed by bots. Now maybe that’s a third party or maybe it’s Elon himself doing that. More than one way to knowingly manipulate a algorithm artificially.

    • @[email protected]
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      219 hours ago

      What do they need bots for? Just cut out the middleman and buy and sell upvotes/ recommendations/ rankings on the frontpage. Who would notice?
      Lemmings and even more so Redditors are still clinging to the sham of “objective” platforms playing by some sort of physical rules and clean, unbiased algorithms in the face of multiple daily threads on social media that are very obviously being brigaded and capsized, for much more than 10 years at this point.

    • @[email protected]
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      -1023 hours ago

      Yes? Should I go into detail on why it works the way it does for more whine? No. I tried to educate and you refused it just like a child.

      • @SeriousMite
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        622 hours ago

        His reply was perfectly civil and mature. You’re the one who’s acting childish.

        • Prior_Industry
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          220 hours ago

          At a guess it’s a Musk fan looking to troll. Sad times that people spend their time like this when having a civil discussion is just as easy and you might actually get a bit more out of it 🤷‍♀️

        • @[email protected]
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          -421 hours ago

          No, I refuse to educate someone that doesn’t want to learn and it’s childish to think you deserve it using anger. When you grow up I can tell you

      • Prior_Industry
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        322 hours ago

        Not sure your education is worth much tbh. Happy for you to keep it 😂