The algorithmic state of mind a human rights frame for governing news recommendation Judith Vermeulen

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vermeulen, Judith, Author.

Series:

Information technology & law series ; 2215-1966 42

Information technology and law series 2215-1966 42

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Digital media--Law and legislation.

Digital media.

Press--Technological innovations.

Press.

Press--Data processing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Berlin, Germany Asser Press 2026

Summary:

This book conceptualises different 'news recommendation' practices from a legal perspective and establishes ways forward for dealing with them. In recent years, online news distributors (online news media, social media, search engines and news aggregators) started deploying algorithmic 'recommender systems' to curate users' news overviews. Such systems automatically (de)select and (de)prioritise items to be displayed in user interfaces, thus deciding which ones are visible and in what order. The ways algorithms shape people's online informational environments has since a decade led to debate. According to some, these technologies threaten democracy, as they may create filter bubbles or push divisive, polarising and extremist content, while others see advantages in recommendation tools that could bring various matters to light or help navigate a potential online information overload. Discussions about how algorithms affect online flows of information are particularly pertinent where news recommenders are concerned; news informs us on matters of public interest and helps us form and debate opinions. An enabler and facilitator for democracy, news fulfils a unique societal function. With a view to facilitating regulatory and policy discussions about news recommendation practices, this book asks what risks and/or opportunities they create in terms of human rights, a question which has remained largely unanswered so far. In the case of risks, the use of these systems may require regulation, and in the case of opportunities, they could potentially be used as a tool to achieve public policy goals. Against that backdrop, this book establishes a human rights frame for governing news recommendation. This book is intended both for scholars and students from legal or other backgrounds, and regulators and policy makers working on new (AI-driven) digital technologies, human rights in the digital age, or human rights generally. Judith Vermeulen is a lawyer with Eubelius in Brussels, Belgium, and a practice assistant in the Law & Technology department of Faculty of Law & Criminology at Ghent University

Contents:

Mapping the New(s) Landscape and the Research Path

Part I. News Recommendation and Human Rights

News Recommendation and the Freedoms of Thought and Opinion

News Recommendation and the Right to Receive Diverse Information and Ideas

Diversity-enhancing News Recommendation and Human Rights

Permissibility News Recommendation in Light of Human Rights (Visualisation)

Part II Regulatory and Policy Options Regarding News Recommendation

Regulating News Recommendation to Protect Our Minds: An EU Law Analysis

News Personalisation and Article 22 GDPR

Online Access Diversity (through Recommendation): Exploring Regulatory and Policy Options

Retrospective and Outlook: Answers and Recommendations

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed June 24, 2026)

ISBN:

9789462657557

9462657556

OCLC:

1599285457

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license