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Beyond Echo Chambers and Rabbit Holes: Algorithmic Drifts and the Limits of the Online Safety Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act

Mbioh, Will (2025) Beyond Echo Chambers and Rabbit Holes: Algorithmic Drifts and the Limits of the Online Safety Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act. Griffith Law Review, . ISSN 1038-3441. (doi:10.1080/10383441.2025.2481544) (KAR id:108977)

Abstract

This paper uses Karen Barad's concepts of intra-action and diffraction to argue that dominant models of understanding algorithmic radicalisation (echo chambers, filter bubbles, rabbit holes) and how it is addressed in the UK and EU, are inadequate for deep neural network systems like YouTube. These models assume users seek out bad content and get stuck in reinforcing loops. However, these systems are far more dynamic and relational, constantly probing, drifting, experimenting, seeking rewards to keep users engaged. Consequently, current laws (e.g., Online Safety Act, Digital Services Act, and Artificial Intelligence Act) are ill-equipped to deal with this. They focus on removing 'bad' content and punishing bad actors, missing the deeper, systemic processes driving radicalisation even when no ‘bad’ content or actors are necessarily involved. While not claiming to have the answers to solve this complex problem, the paper argues for better questions that account for the complexity of these systems and their relational, intra-active, and diffractive nature.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/10383441.2025.2481544
Uncontrolled keywords: Algorithmic radicalisation; Online Safety Act; Digital Services Act; Artificial intelligence Act; Deep neural networks; Intra-action theory; Algorithmic drift; Echo chambers; Rabbit Holes; Regulation of online harm
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
K Law
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Will Mbioh
Date Deposited: 07 Mar 2025 23:19 UTC
Last Modified: 27 Mar 2025 21:14 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108977 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Mbioh, Will.

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