Dems to Facebook: Get serious about misinformation, hate

[turbinetree]

Source: Associated Press

Two influential Democrats on Capitol Hill have urged Facebook to take stronger action against misinformation, voter suppression and incitements to violence ahead of the 2020 election.

In a letter sent to the company on Sunday, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal and David Cicilline accused Facebook of failing to enforce its own rules when it comes to false claims about the election, and not doing enough to stop right-wing militias and white supremacist groups from using the platform to organize potentially violent events.

“With the election less than 50 days away, the lack of concerted action by Facebook to address this threat to our democracy is a grave concern,” the two lawmakers wrote. “We are at the precipice of a democratic crisis, and Facebook must take all immediate steps within Facebook’s power to avert this crisis.”

Congress has done little to increase oversight of social media companies, so the letter amounts to little more than a public scolding. Federal officials have largely let the companies set their own policies on hate speech and misinformation.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-race-and-ethnicity-media-misinformation-social-media-d24e3276008c938fd861696369b0766c

[melm00se]

1. have to be very careful here

to avoid compromising the 1st Amendment.

There is no hate speech exception in the 1st Amendment.

[PSPS]

3. Wrong. This has nothing to do with "the 1st amendment"

These are private platforms and their owners are free to do whatever they want with them. The only thing preventing them from doing the right thing is their desire to keep the rubles flowing into their untaxed fat wallets.

[melm00se]

6. You would be correct

except here you have state actors with legislative power contacting a private company with what can be construed as a "do this or else..." message.

[beachbumbob]

2. I would simply telegraph the message that after January, full investigations and charges will be

forthcoming for collusion and treason conducted by any and all participants from facebook to twitter to news media outlets.

[lagomorph777]

4. Quit calling it "misinformation." It's "disinformation."

First Amendment is not license to lie, defraud, and defame.

And the US Constitution provides no protection to foreign invaders (e.g. Russian trolls).

[yaesu]

5. Dems should make it plain to facebook, when we take power you're dirty deeds will come back

to haunt you.

[sybylla]

7. But this is about to change...

"Federal officials have largely let the companies set their own policies on hate speech and misinformation."

If Dems are sending off warning shots now, Facebook and other SM companies better beware.