PRESS: Yandex, VK against muting recommendation algorithms

MOSCOW, May 27 (PRIME) -- Russian Internet companies Yandex and VK have opposed the proposition of a bill on recommendation algorithms of online platforms that enables to switch them off, business daily Kommersant reported on Friday quoting sources.

A source close to the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, said that the expert council of political party United Russia will discuss on Friday a bill on regulation of recommendation algorithms prior to its submission to the chamber.

The bill obliges online platforms to allow users to switch off the algorithms that shape the specially selected content in the feed and warn of their application. The idea was explained by the fact that recommendations can “create an abnormal interest to goods and influence the public opinion.”

Three IT market sources told the daily that Yandex and VK had already spoken against the initiative. The document’s authors promise to discuss it with the market.

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