Rogue Robot Blasts a Massive 6.8 Earthquake on Los Angeles

Fortunately for Hollywood and Coachella, the blast was confined to twitter, and the massive earthquake was from 1925.

http://gizmodo.com/robot-journalist-accidentally-reports-on-earthquake-fro-1796325030

When reporters report on the news, they're starting a chain of truth. They've looked at some facts or done some sleuthing, uncovered something that they believe to be a truth, and written or told a story about it to everyone else. It's hopefully based on reality, on the ground truth.

When algorithms report on the news, or push news based on rules, we sometimes get a version of the truth that doesn't match reality. If enough algorithms have enough 'power' and contribute to this detached, shared reality, we get a bizarro version of the ground truth.

Like a massive earthquake ripping through Los Angeles, presented as fact.

Now, with the earthquake: human error. A simple mistake.

But, what would happen if it wasn't a mistake? What would happen if a human figured out how to game the system?

What would happen if everyone on the east coast thought that there really was a massive earthquake with thousands of people dead, and news never got back that it was a myth?

How long would it take for reality to push back against that bizarro version of the ground truth?