Opinion: If hate-fueled algorithms cause real-world harm, tech firms should pay

"Whether by design or by quiet submission to a rapidly-evolving digital landscape, the world's largest social media companies have allowed their platforms to become factories of division, dehumanization and, increasingly, real-world violence. What began as tools for connection have become engines of rage. It's no accident. It's business. At the heart of this transformation lies the engagement algorithm: a seemingly neutral mechanism that curates what billions of people see, like, share and believe."

"Algorithms are not neutral. They are engineered with a single purpose to keep us on the platform, clicking, commenting and scrolling. In the race to capture attention, one emotional trigger outperforms others: anger. Outrage spreads faster than facts. Posts that inflame generate more engagement than those that inform. The algorithm doesn't care if a post is divisive or harmful only that you can't look away."

"The result is an attention economy where the most profitable content is often the most toxic. This isn't a theoretical concern. We see the consequences every day, as online harassment and hate speech metastasize into offline assaults. A measure now awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature, Senate Bill 771, represents a vital step toward a safer and, more civil digital arena."

Major social media companies have turned platforms into engines of division, dehumanization and real-world violence by optimizing for engagement. Engagement algorithms are engineered to maximize time on platform by promoting emotionally triggering content, with anger and outrage outperforming informative posts. Outrage spreads faster than facts and drives clicks, making toxic content more profitable regardless of harm. The attention economy therefore incentivizes inflammatory content, contributing to online harassment, hate speech and offline assaults. Senate Bill 771 would allow Californians to hold large platforms accountable when algorithms materially contribute to civil-rights violations. Failure to prevent these outcomes constitutes complicity despite claims of no intent.

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