The Algorithmic Media Observatory attends to the changing media that influence participation in politics and culture. The AMO’s name acknowledges that these media—which include social media platforms, mobile phones, and home routers—are powered by dynamic and often invisible code that require new approaches to the task of observation. The AMO studies the patterns and habits of these algorithmic media to detect their subtle influence. Personalization and stratification, commands and nudges, prioritization and ranking—these are among the many ways that algorithms intervene in political affairs and cultural life. While these media are global, the observatory privileges its Canadian perspective and context, focusing on local challenges and domestic policy solutions.
digital methods for internet policy and politics
