by Twitch and Discord are among a group of social media companies being investigated by New York Attorney General Letitia James following the heinous shooting in Buffalo on May 14.
Attorney General James says the 18-year-old suspected of taking 10 lives at a Buffalo supermarket may have used social media to “discuss and amplify his intentions and actions,” and is therefore launching an investigation specifically targeting on Twitch, Discord, 4chan and 8chan, and what role they might have played in the attack, which police are calling a hate crime.
“The terrorist attack in Buffalo has once again revealed the depths and danger of online forums that spread and promote hate,” said Attorney General James. “The fact that an individual could post detailed plans to commit such an act of hate without consequence, and then broadcast it for the world to see is chilling and unfathomable.
“As we continue to mourn and honor the lives that were stolen, we are taking serious steps to investigate these companies for their role in this attack. Time and time again, we have seen the real-world devastation that stems from these dangerous and hateful platforms.” , and we’re doing everything in our power to highlight this alarming behavior and take steps to make sure it never happens again.”
In a press release, the Attorney General cites reports that the alleged shooter had been posting online about his hatred of specific groups and sharing theories about white supremacy in the months leading up to the shooting. He was also reported to have discussed plans online for a possible attack on an elementary school, a church and other locations in predominantly black communities. The attacker broadcast his actions publicly on social media and shared a 180-page manifesto online clearly setting out his hateful views.
Governor of New York Katherine Hochul has been critical of the CEOs of social networks after the attack and was the one who formally requested that the Attorney General investigate the named companies and establish whether they have “civil or criminal liability for their role in promoting, facilitating or providing a platform to plan and promote violence.
“We need to respect individual First Amendment rights, but when people use online platforms to promote and plan violence, questions arise about the role of social media platforms in promoting violence. These questions need to be answered,” Hochul wrote.
