The Algorithm is God

“You can’t say that!” Federal Transmissions and Receptions head said. He looked brown skinned and it was as if being a career Army officer had plagued him.

“Why not? The algorithm is God all of a sudden?” Twenty-four-year-old Barcia Bompton said. She had racked up over ten billion views since she launched her online haul videos. She tallied close to a hundred million subscribers. “What’s wrong?” she continued. “Why can’t I make money using that word on the Internet?”

“Besides the fact the FTR has banned it in this country, it is nasty and upsets people.”

“So does bad sushi, but wait, are you all about to ban sushi, too?”

The head of the FTR massaged his temples. “I called you here from your home in Delaware to—”

“You called me here to go over how the algorithm is set up for private individuals to be under the yoke of the government. I don’t mind private companies reserving the right to block speech they disagree with, that’s justice. What I do mind is the government being involved with any of it. Shouldn’t you be protecting rights, rather than trampling over them?”

“I’m telling you…the government must step in whenever decency regulations are violated.”

Barcia looked up and then down again. She breathed out air from her lungs.

“Again, where’s the justice? There are actual murderers, rapists, fraudsters, and robbers out here. Why are you concerned about me?”

“I—” he held his hands up. “Here’s the deal….” his second in command Dottie Gunn entered the office.

“Mrs. Gunn, I’m sure you’re familiar with Miss Bompton’s work online.”

“Of course. I’ll cut to bone…the government has to cease things in poor taste and what the public doesn’t like.”

“No, the government is tasked with protecting individual rights. That’s its sole role.”

Speechless.