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?
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