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Platform Accountability
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amplify racism and other forms of hate — threatening public safety, civil rights, privacy and our democracy.
The platforms’ failure to protect women, people of color, immigrants, religious minorities and the LGBTQIA+ community has allowed hate groups to recruit new followers, fund their operations and incite real-life violence.
Meanwhile, the platforms are failing to crack down on disinformation — disrupting free and fair elections, stalling public-health responses to the pandemic and making it harder to hold the powerful accountable. These companies also exploit internet users’ privacy and subject them to discriminatory algorithms — violating people’s civil and human rights.
Free Press is fighting for the policy and culture changes we need to hold Big Tech accountable.
Learn More:
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Democracy Deferred: Social-Media Companies' Meager Commitments to Election Integrity in 2024
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Big Tech Backslide: How Social-Media Rollbacks Endanger Democracy Ahead of the 2024 Elections
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Surgeon General's Warning on the Health Dangers of Misinformation Must Prompt Congress to Hold Platforms Accountable, Says Free Press Action
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Elon Musk: The World's Worst Businessman
Question and Answers
Q:
What can the platforms do to crack down on hate?
A: Free Press is co-leading the Change the Terms coalition, which developed model corporate policies designed to combat hateful activities. More than 60 groups have endorsed these policies, which we’re urging the platforms to adopt.
Free Press Action is urging Congress to adopt comprehensive privacy legislation and stop tech giants from engaging in anti-competitive and abusive practices.
Q:
But isn’t removing hateful content the same thing as censorship?
A: No. The First Amendment doesn’t apply to the policies of private companies; it applies only to government actions. Companies can and should limit their role in spreading hate while protecting the free and open internet.
Q:
Why is this a racial justice issue?
A: The platforms have enabled white supremacists to organize while engaging in hate speech and harassing people of color. At the same time the platforms have removed posts from racial-justice activists.
These companies profit from the use of our private data to enable and sometimes even participate in discrimination against people of color and other impacted communities.
