Angela Merkel: search engines are ‘distorting perception’

German chancellor Angela Merkel urged Internet platforms to reveal their search engine algorithms, as their lack of transparency might ‘lead to a distortion of our perception’ and ‘shrink our expanse of information’. Merkel argued that Internet users have a right to know on what basis they receive information through search engines. She explained that the algorithms operated by search engines could lead to a lack of confrontation with opposing ideas – leading to so-called filter bubbles and echo chambers – which can harm a healthy democracy.