When Algorithmic Transparency Failed: Controversies Over Algorithm-Driven Content Curation in the South Korean Digital Environment

Content curation in contemporary digital platforms leverages both algorithmic decision making and human judgment. As much as algorithm has become an integral part of digital configurations, there are growing concerns about the lack of accountability surrounding algorithm-driven digital services. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American behavioral scientist (Beverly Hills) 2021-05, Vol.65 (6), p.847-862
Main Authors: Kim, Kitae, Moon, Shin-Il
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Algorithms
Decision making
Environment
Governance
Internet
Judgment
Opacity
Social media
Transparency
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Summary:Content curation in contemporary digital platforms leverages both algorithmic decision making and human judgment. As much as algorithm has become an integral part of digital configurations, there are growing concerns about the lack of accountability surrounding algorithm-driven digital services. The issue of algorithmic accountability is attributed not only to intrinsic opacity in computational processes but also to the lack of transparency in platform governance. This article discusses two controversial cases surrounding algorithmic transparency in the South Korean digital environment. It first epitomizes the notion of algorithmic transparency as a prerequisite for accountability. Then, it situates the use of algorithms for online content curation in the South Korean digital environment to illustrate how algorithmic transparency is complicated by sociopolitical conditions. Finally, this research offers several suggestions for promoting a more accountable algorithm society.
ISSN:0002-7642
1552-3381
DOI:10.1177/0002764221989783