Sentence:  The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing <WSD>influence</WSD> on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.