The manifesto categorizes sabotage into three distinct levels, which provides a useful framework for activists and technologists:
In response to the algorithmic menace, we must take a stand. We must reject the notion that algorithms are infallible and that their outputs are sacrosanct. We must question their assumptions, challenge their biases, and subvert their control. This is the essence of Algorithmic Sabotage. manifesto on algorithmic sabotage
Not all algorithms are equally worthy of sabotage. The algorithm that suggests what movie to watch next is annoying but relatively benign. The algorithm that determines who gets a mortgage, who gets paroled, who gets hired, who gets admitted, who gets surveilled—these are matters of life consequence. Prioritize your efforts accordingly. This is the essence of Algorithmic Sabotage
However, this convenience comes at a steep cost. Algorithms have become the instruments of a technocratic elite, who wield them to maintain control, reinforce their privilege, and further their interests. These "invisible governors" (to borrow a phrase from the Italian philosopher, Vilfredo Pareto) operate with impunity, unaccountable to the public and unregulated by traditional democratic institutions. The algorithm that determines who gets a mortgage,
Algorithmic sabotage is the intentional degradation of a machine learning system’s performance, reliability, or truth-output. It includes but is not limited to:
In the early 21st century, algorithms have become the backbone of modern society. They govern the flow of information, dictate the course of our daily lives, and shape our interactions with the world around us. From social media feeds to financial transactions, algorithms are the invisible puppeteers that control the strings of our reality. But what happens when these algorithms turn against us? What happens when the very code that was meant to liberate us becomes a tool of oppression?