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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Algorithmic Anarchy

The NEET paper leak protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar should have remained a legitimate expression of student anger over the collapse of examination integrity. Instead, as the agitation escalated into clashes with the police, abusive sloganeering and an increasingly radical political campaign, Meta’s algorithms emerged as an invisible force multiplying the unrest. The controversy surrounding the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the youth in the aftermath of the...

Algorithmic Anarchy

The NEET paper leak protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar should have remained a legitimate expression of student anger over the collapse of examination integrity. Instead, as the agitation escalated into clashes with the police, abusive sloganeering and an increasingly radical political campaign, Meta’s algorithms emerged as an invisible force multiplying the unrest. The controversy surrounding the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the youth in the aftermath of the protests only reinforces that concern. Meta has attributed the takedown to a “technical glitch” and apologised. But when the world’s largest social media platform can temporarily suppress the message of the elected leader of the world’s largest democracy during a politically charged moments, the issue extends well beyond a single deleted post. Who decides what India sees? That question has become impossible to ignore during the Cockroach Janta Party’s protests. Across Instagram and Facebook, users have reported being inundated with CJP videos, reels and protest clips despite never following the organisation or engaging with similar political content. Whether this resulted from coordinated paid collaborations, recommendation algorithms or both deserves a thorough investigation. But the larger democratic concern is that public opinion is increasingly being mediated not by citizens, journalists or elected representatives, but by opaque algorithms designed in Silicon Valley and optimised for engagement rather than democratic responsibility. Meta’s recommendation engine is not a passive notice board. Every piece of political content that reaches millions has first been selected by an algorithm whose workings remain largely hidden from public scrutiny. This is hardly unique to India. Around the world, Meta has repeatedly been accused of amplifying polarisation, misinformation and political extremism because outrage keeps users engaged. From elections to ethnic conflicts and episodes of civil unrest, the company has faced persistent criticism that its commercial incentives reward divisive content over balanced discourse. Democracies cannot afford to outsource the architecture of public debate to corporations whose primary obligation is to shareholders rather than constitutional values. While citizens are entitled to challenge governments and demand accountability, there is an important distinction between a movement that expands because people are persuaded and one that appears to be algorithmically amplified into omnipresence. Equally disturbing has been the normalisation of abusive political language during the protests. When such content is repeatedly amplified through recommendation systems, platforms cease to be neutral intermediaries and become active participants in degrading democratic discourse. Platforms that influence elections, protests and public opinion must explain how political recommendations are generated and why particular narratives receive extraordinary amplification. Silicon Valley companies insist they are merely technology platforms. But their algorithms increasingly exercise editorial power. When software determines which protests dominate national conversations and whose voices disappear, technology has already become politics.

Can the RCB Juggle the Cup Without Dropping It?

IPL 2026 – where defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) strut into the arena like prom kings fresh off a fairy-tale win, only to realise the crown’s made of kryptonite. After shattering an 18-year curse with that nail-biting 2025 triumph – Virat Kohli’s beard practically glowing under the Ahmedabad lights – the big question isn’t “Will they?” but “Can they without imploding like a bad sequel?” Picture this: The squad that finally cracked the code now faces the auction guillotine, with a purse slimmer than Kohli’s patience on a bad day (Rs 16.4 crore for eight slots, anyone?). It’s like winning the lottery, then blowing half on therapy for the near misses. But hey, optimism is RCB’s middle name – right after “Chokers Anonymous”.


Let’s dissect this circus act. Retaining 17 players, including six overseas firecrackers, RCB’s basically yelling, “If it ain’t broke, duct-tape it harder!” Captain Rajat Patidar stays at the helm, the quiet assassin who turned collapses into confetti last year. Kohli, the Run God, anchors like a barnacle on a battleship – 741 runs in 2025, because apparently, retirement’s for quitters. Openers Phil Salt (the cheeky Englishman smacking sixes like afternoon tea) and Devdutt Padikkal provide fireworks, while Tim David and Romario Shepherd turn the death overs into a demolition derby. Bowling? Josh Hazlewood’s laser-guided yorkers make batsmen weep, Bhuvneshwar Kumar swings it sneakier than a politician’s promise, and Yash Dayal’s left-arm zip adds that “oops, you’re out” spice. Krunal Pandya’s all-round wizardry and Jitesh Sharma’s glovework round out a core deeper than a fan’s denial phase.


But releases? Oof. Booting Liam Livingstone (112 runs at 16 avg – more flop than pop) and Lungi Ngidi feels like firing the clown after one bad balloon animal. Mayank Agarwal and Manoj Bhandage hit the eject button too, leaving the middle order whispering and the spin bench warmer than a forgotten samosa. With the December 16 Abu Dhabi auction looming, RCB’s got eight slots and a wallet that says “bargain bin only”. Can they snag a mystery spinner or a finisher without breaking the bank? Or will they end up with more “projects” than pros, turning M. Chinnaswamy into a batting parlour?


To SWOT this soap opera – because nothing says “fun” like corporate buzzwords in cricket drag:


Strengths (The Superhero Cape): Bulletproof batting backbone with Kohli’s obsession and Salt’s swagger – they chased 200+ like it was a grocery run. The Hazlewood-Bhuvi-Dayal trio is a swing symphony that choked PBKS in the ’25 final. Depth in all-rounders (Krunal, Shepherd) means no panic buttons. Winning vibes? Intangible, but hey, trophies cure imposter syndrome.


Weaknesses (The Kryptonite Crutch): Purse poverty – Rs 16.4 crore for eight bodies? That’s espresso money in IPL terms, not an espresso machine. Livingstone’s exit leaves a power-hitting vacuum wider than AB de Villiers’ smile. Spin department’s Swapnil Singh and Suyash Sharma – solid, but not “unplayable on a turning track” solid. Injuries to Hazlewood (he’s human, shockingly) could turn defences into doormats.


Opportunities (The Plot Twist Potential): Auction’s a treasure hunt! Snag a budget overseas spinner like Noor Ahmad redux or a domestic dasher to plug the finisher hole. Trades already shuffled the deck – why not poach a rival’s castoff? The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a scouting goldmine for uncapped gems. Defending champs get that “underdog glow-up” – fans are louder, and pressure is sweeter.


Threats (The Villain Monologue): Bigger-purse bullies like KKR (Rs 64.3 crore war chest – they’re basically shopping for a squad, not slots) could hoover up stars like Mitchell Starc 2.0. CSK’s rebuild rage, MI’s money machine, SRH’s sluggers – everyone’s gunning for the throne. Chinnaswamy’s rocket favours batsmen; one bad dew night, and poof – fairy tale over. Plus, Kohli’s beard: iconic, but does it intimidate bowlers or just distract them?


So, can RCB defend? In a league where the Mumbai Indians have three rings and CSK’s got Dhoni’s black magic, it’s 50-50 – half genius, half gamble. If they auction smart (no impulse buys on hype trains), harness that ’25 mojo, and avoid the “sequel slump”, Bengaluru could two-peat like a boss. Otherwise? Back to memes and “next year” chants. Either way, grab popcorn: This red circus is about to clown or crown. Thala for a reason? Nah, Ee Sala Cup Namde – again?


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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