EPISODE TWENTY-FOUR | Weapons of Math Destruction with Cathy O'Neil

Summary: "Democracy isn't just about the ability to vote. Democracy is about being an informed citizen..." This is just one of the points you'll hear in my conversation with data-skeptic, author and mathematician, Cathy O'Neil. We discuss her book "Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality & Threatens Democracy," and the ways in which algorithms dictate nearly every aspect of our lives, including our interactions with the criminal justice system and our elections. We also discuss how Facebook and Cambridge Analytica use our personal data in ways that may influence our voting decisions. O'Neil believes these practices pose a serious threat to democracy and for this reason, this is one of Electorette's most important episodes to date.