The inquiry examines the transformation of algorithmic outputs, focusing on their increasing influence within digital environments. It identifies three distinct mutations in how speech is understood and utilized. The first mutation involved treating speech as data, exemplified by the shift from information retrieval to an economic regime driven by algorithmic visibility through search engines. The second mutation reframed speech as engagement, with social media platforms using moderation and amplification to convert expression into a metric of attention, managed by corporate architectures. The third mutation is currently emerging in conversational systems and interfaces, where generative text replaces information retrieval, creating dense technolegal entanglements and significant epistemic consequences. These shifts necessitate a critical assessment of the role of law in shaping these developments. This research aims to clarify the evolving debate around algorithmic speech, offering a resource for those involved in its observation, assessment, and contestation.
Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.09496