It is pedantic, and you have to be pedantic when talking about laws and regulations. The vaguely written laws have the tendency to be interpreted in the most restrictive way possible by the executive branch.
> "Algorithm" is obviously shorthand for: a recommendations system that shows me things I didn't explicitly opt into.
In that interpretation that is applicable to any form of broadcast, including TV and radio, driven by the user ratings of their previous programs.
You haven't seen any proposed law. Just someone's choice of word that got your back up.
This is hacker news, not a law board. use good faith.