Information Cocoon

“Computers analyze the data to look for patterns that might not be obvious, such as curly fries pointing to higher intelligence.

“Chris Wylie, a Cambridge [Analytics] co-founder who left in 2014, said the firm used such techniques to learn about individuals and create an information cocoon to change their perceptions. In doing so, he said, the firm ‘took fake news to the next level.’

“‘This is based on an idea called ‘informational dominance,’ which is the idea that if you can capture every channel of information around a person and then inject content around them, you can change their perception of what’s actually happening,’ Wylie said.”

—Barbara Ortutay and Anick Jesdanun, reporters, “How Facebook likes could profile voters for manipulation,” The Associated Press, March 19, 2018.

• Editorial Comment: I wish someone would change my perception of what’s actually happening.

PeezPix

So Dewy

 

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