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Republican Senator Wants Google and Facebook to Have Algorithm-Free Options

  • Senate’s No. 2 Republican proposing bill to exclude user data
  • Google executive supports more transparency into algorithms
John Thune

John Thune

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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Senator John Thune is preparing legislation that would give users the option to use big internet platforms such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. without algorithms driving what content they see.

“The powerful mechanisms behind these platforms meant to enhance engagement also have the ability, or at least the potential, to influence the thoughts and behaviors of literally billions of people,” Thune said Tuesday at a Senate subcommittee hearing on “persuasive technology.”