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Santa Clara UniversityUniversity Library

Bias in Search Engines And Algorithms

A critical analysis of the explicit and implicit biases present in various search engines, databases, and algorithms that people regularly interact with in their daily lives
  • Critical librarianship — A movement that supports the belief that librarians should examine and fight oppression
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) — The Library of Congress assigns subject headings to books to describe the topics they cover
  • Data discrimination — Algorithms or data that replicate negative biases and stereotypes towards marginalized groups of people in society
  • Search neutrality — The concept of a search engine that uses a non-discriminatory algorithm
  • Algorithm — A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.