⚡ Wondering How Elections Are Manipulated? Here's One Way

ELECTIONS AND TECH
How Google (and other tech firms) Manipulate Elections With Their Algorithms

In a recent podcast, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Amaryllis Fox Kennedy sat down with Dr. Robert Epstein, a psychologist and expert on digital manipulation, to discuss how big tech companies, particularly Google, could influence U.S. elections and users in general. Dr. Epstein, who has studied this issue for over a decade, emphasized that Google's algorithms have an immense power to subtly sway public opinion and voting behavior, often without users realizing it. This influence, he claims, threatens democratic processes by potentially shifting millions of votes toward specific candidates.

Epstein began by explaining the "Search Engine Manipulation Effect" (SEME), where search results and suggestions on Google and other platforms can guide a user’s choices without their knowledge. Google’s algorithms, for instance, tailor suggestions from the first character typed, influencing search terms and subsequently shaping a user’s perception. This influence extends beyond search; Google’s video recommendations on YouTube, especially for younger users, and its homepage vote reminders, which Epstein’s research shows are often biased, add layers of subtle manipulation……

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