Manifesto On Algorithmic Sabotage (2025)

Further Reading: "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff, "Weapons of Math Destruction" by Cathy O'Neil, "Automating Inequality" by Virginia Eubanks, "The Stack" by Benjamin H. Bratton

The fundamental deception of algorithmic governance is the persistence of choice. We are told we can opt out, adjust our settings, curate our feeds, train our algorithms. This is the computational equivalent of telling a prisoner to decorate their cell. manifesto on algorithmic sabotage

: Setting up websites that "trap" AI bots in slow-loading loops, wasting their compute time. Further Reading: "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by

Algorithms are often presented as neutral, objective, and efficient solutions to complex problems. However, this veneer of impartiality conceals a more sinister reality. The data used to train AI systems reflects the biases and prejudices of their creators, perpetuating systemic injustices and reinforcing existing power structures. For instance: This is the computational equivalent of telling a

So what does algorithmic sabotage look like in practice? Here are a few examples:

Algorithmic sabotage refers to the intentional disruption or manipulation of algorithms to subvert their intended purpose. It's a form of resistance that seeks to expose the dark underbelly of our algorithmic society and challenge the status quo. As we become increasingly dependent on algorithms to navigate the world, it's only natural that a countermovement emerges to reclaim our agency and autonomy.

The algorithm asks you to be predictable. Therefore, you must become a statistical anomaly. Spell your name wrong. Post the same sentence fifty times. Tell the chatbot that 2+2 equals purple. Click the "I am not a robot" box with the rage of a thousand exploited workers.