10/10/2024 – Vice President Kamala Harris released the controversial statement, announcing that police would be trained to battle extremism and hold social media platforms responsible for promoting hate speech. Harris was making the same point during a campaign appearance when she made references to how online communities encourage hate and misinformation, which is harmful to American democracy.
“We will direct law enforcement to counter this extremism. We will hold social media platforms accountable for the hate infiltrating their platforms…because they have a responsibility to our democracy,” Harris stated.
She makes these remarks amid growing demands from members of the Democratic Party to take action against internet propaganda and hate speech. It has been the same in the last two weeks for several other Democratic leaders including Hillary Clinton and John Kerry begging us to step up and act on the internet that they believe is helping propagate violent views.
A Growing Chorus of Concern from Democrats
Harris’s comment echoes remarks made this week by Hillary Clinton that, last week, social media disinformation was compromising democracy and should be regulated. Clinton has been a big advocate for making Big Tech accountable for their own content, and the fact that they benefited from disinformation in the 2016 presidential election was one example.
And John Kerry, former Secretary of State and climate envoy, also gained headlines earlier this month when he attacked social media outlets for not controlling hate speech and extremism, especially in relation to climate change denial and anti-democratic movements. Kerry insisted that the internet was responsible for the intelligent debate that we should hold – and should prevent hate and deception from flourishing unrestrained.
The comments from Harris, Clinton, and Kerry are part of a broader movement among Democrats to limit social media outlets that they accuse of incubating extremist ideology, propaganda and even violence.
Social Media Platforms in the Crosshairs
Harris’s call for accountability is likely aimed at platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, which have been criticized for their algorithms that often amplify divisive content. Over the past few years, social media giants have faced growing scrutiny for how they moderate content, particularly after events such as the January 6th Capitol riot, where online platforms were used to organize and spread inflammatory rhetoric.
This statement from the vice president implies that a Harris administration would do more to regulate online content and involve the law enforcement in the fight against extremism. That law enforcement agencies should participate in online moderation is a controversial proposition, which some believe can result in trespassing or an infringement of free speech.
Harris, however, positioned the matter in terms of public safety and democratic integrity. “Hate speech and extremism cannot be tolerated in our society. These platforms have a responsibility to protect the public, and we will ensure they are held accountable,” she said.
The Political Debate Over Free Speech
Harris’s remarks have triggered a political controversy, notably among conservatives who consider greater social media regulation a violation of free speech. Proponents contend that an attempt to regulate “extremism” could be employed against legitimate criticism and political activity.
Republicans have long argued that social media is racist to the left and point to examples of conservative personalities and postings that have been censored or deleted from websites. After Harris made these statements, some Republican leaders accused her of government overreach.
“Americans have a right to express their views online, even if those views are unpopular. What Kamala Harris is proposing is a slippery slope to government censorship,” said Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal critic of Big Tech regulation.
Looking Ahead: Potential Legislation and Regulation
The call for social media responsibility comes as Congress struggles to navigate Section 230, the bill that exempts platforms from liability for user content. Some lawmakers across the aisle want to revisit the law in an attempt to hold platforms more accountable, though their views are split on how exactly.
Democratic concerns usually revolve around battling hate speech, fake news and extremism, while the Republicans are more concerned with making sure conservative voices aren’t artificially muzzled by tech companies.
Despite the ongoing fight over social media accountability, Harris’s statement would seem to indicate that any future Biden-Harris administration would be more likely to have legislation that would further police online platforms. This will ultimately come down to a political determination on the part of Congress as to whether it will succeed or not, given the next election and whether Congress has the political will to deal with these issues.
To read more: CNN, The New York Times and Reuters.
