The tyranny of the algorithm and digital India act

JS Mill who is regarded as the father of negative liberty and a staunch opponent to state interventionism, in 1859 warned that the “tyranny of the majority” was more dangerous than the “tyranny of a magistrate”. Today as India prepares the Digital India Act we face a new version of this threat: “the tyranny of the algorithm”.

JS Mill is a frequently quoted philosopher for his views on freedom of speech, expressions, thoughts and opinion. In this supposed “age of information” where most of the social media platforms are filled with misinformation or half truths, Mills’ harm principle is highly relevant to justify state intervention in the digital sphere because “cognitive harm” is just as dangerous as physical harm.