Amazon algorithms promote vaccine misinformation, study finds

Researchers found that the more Amazon customers engaged with products like books and e-books promoting anti-vaccine misinformation, the more Amazon's algorithms recommended similar misinformative products to them. — Sipa USA/TNS

SEATTLE: As vaccine misinformation has prompted some to say they will refuse to be inoculated against the coronavirus, the world’s largest online retailer remains a hotbed for anti-vaccination conspiracy theories, according to a new study by University of Washington researchers.

Amazon’s search algorithm boosts books promoting false claims about vaccines over those that debunk health misinformation, the researchers found – and as customers engage with products espousing bogus science, Amazon’s recommendation algorithms point them to additional health misinformation.