WASHINGTON, DC – In light of CNN reporting that Paul Pelosi’s attempted murderer was well-steeped in conspiracy theories online, often posting about the 2020 election and January 6th on social media platforms and was in fact looking for the Speaker herself, the Tech Oversight Project issues the following statement condemning Big Tech for its role in creating, profiting from, and refusing to fix the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and calls for violence on their platforms:
“Make no mistake: today’s attack on Speaker Pelosi and her husband may have been perpetrated by one man, but it was incubated by Big Tech platforms that profit from the conspiracy theories, disinformation, and violence the would-be assassin peddled in,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of the Tech Oversight Project. “Tech giants like Facebook and Google created a toxic atmosphere where public officials and their families are at risk, where profit-prioritizing algorithms amplify dangerous content and hate speech, and now online threats are spilling over into real-world violence. Despite admitting to it in private, tech monopolies have done next to nothing to solve this problem and continue to pay only lip service to lawmakers. Until Congress steps in, this sad and terrifying situation will only worsen.”
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