Algorithms of Oppression

How Search Engines Reinforce Racism

By: Safiya Umoja Noble

Narrated by: Shayna Small

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A revealing look at how negative biases against women of color are embedded in search engine results and algorithms.

Run a Google search for “black girls” - what will you find? “Big Booty” and other sexually explicit terms are likely to come up as top search terms. But, if you type in “white girls”, the results are radically different. The suggested porn sites and un-moderated discussions about “why black women are so sassy” or “why black women are so angry” presents a disturbing portrait of black womanhood in modern society.

In Algorithms of Oppression, Safiya Umoja Noble challenges the idea that search engines like Google offer an equal playing field for all forms of ideas, identities, and activities. Data discrimination is a real social problem; Noble argues that the combination of private interests in promoting certain sites, along with the monopoly status of a relatively small number of Internet search engines, leads to a biased set of search algorithms that privilege whiteness and discriminate against people of color, specifically women of color.

Through an analysis of textual and media searches as well as extensive research on paid online advertising, Noble exposes a culture of racism and sexism in the way discoverability is created online. As search engines and their related companies grow in importance - operating as a source for email, a major vehicle for primary and secondary school learning, and beyond - understanding and reversing these disquieting trends and discriminatory practices is of utmost importance.

An original, surprising and, at times, disturbing account of bias on the internet, Algorithms of Oppression contributes to our understanding of how racism is created, maintained, and disseminated in the 21st century.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2018 New York University (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

a must read if you're in the tech field.

This is an informative book with good points. good real world examples and very relevant for today.

This book changed my perception of technology.

This book was one of the most well documented and engaging discussions on the issues of technologies role in perpetuating systematic racism while feigning impartiality. I was riveted from the beginning to the epilogue. A great read.

It's good information

This is great information for everyone 6-96. The permanence of racism and bigotry is now flowing through the veins of our search engines. Knowledge is power.

A great read

This was great read. Because technology and programming develops at such a constant and rapid pass, although published just 6 years ago, I will admit that some things discussed may seem a tad bit dated, but still applicable. Moreover, in this new age of A.I, a lot of what this book explores makes it such a poignant read, especially when you look at some of the biases that have been reported with A.I.

Excellent

Please share this incredible work! My friends raved about the recommendation, even though these aren’t easy truths to hear.

Incredible and relevant

A few years after its initial publication, this book still holds up with extremely relevant and important information about how Google monopolizes how we take in information. The implications are vast. Should be required reading for anyone who ventures into discussions of how tech platforms should be regulated.

Read this book. Tell everyone you know about it.

This is perhaps the single most important and consequential book I have ever read. Noble frames this discussion specifically around how women and people of color have their identities put into a kind of "default mode" online through search algorithms that are not in their best interest, much less represent them in ways they choose. At the same time, she argues persuasively how the infiltration and monopolization of search by the neoliberal capitalist project is a critical issue for everyone. The audiobook for this is quite well done, and it is written with a precision and clarity that will make it accessible to anyone.

Eye opening look into suppression of unbiased information

Powerful in-depth look into a problem we didn’t, and most still don’t, know we had. Overwhelming evidence supporting the author’s key points along with the detrimental impact on communities and groups, and the complete and shameless duping of the rest of us as we are herded toward information that someone else has paid to have us see. We no longer have free will when searching for information on the internet.

Spectacular, a must read for all!

All employees and owners of tech companies must read this, all students of programming and data science, and all people in internet advocacy and in public health should read this brilliant and Illuminating book. Pure genius.

Eye-opening experience!

This research is essential for today’s world that is increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence, and is seemingly enamored with its assumed objectivity. It is vital to reflect on algorithms which pretend to bring neutrality and efficiency into our lives while promoting systemic injustice, racism, and sexism.