People For Member,
As the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump continues, the evidence of his guilt in the events leading up to the January 6 insurrection is damning. Another inescapable conclusion is that technology played a major role in allowing the far-right to organize their plans with almost no attempt at concealing them.
Tech companies have long looked the other way when their users share disinformation and extremist content, but it took the near collapse of our democracy for them to begin cracking down on the content in a more proactive way.
It should have never gotten to this point and we must demand that they are held accountable.
We've become increasingly concerned over the past decade about the way in which tech companies have aided and abetted right-wing extremists. Facebook does their recruiting for them. Twitter allows them to promote themselves, and Amazon sells their wares.
Just this past year, Amazon was selling neo-Nazi and other far-right materials on their website, including hats emblazoned with the slogan “Black Lives Don’t Matter” at the height of the protests over George Floyd’s death.
In just a few clicks someone can easily find far-right content that is contributing to the radicalization of millions of people around the world, with tech algorithms eagerly serving up the latest conspiracy theory or dangerous falsehood.
Platforms have proven over and over that they will not address the widespread harm caused by their obsession with making money at all costs, and another tech-driven tragedy is inevitable unless our leaders recognize the damage these companies have caused.
This is an imperative step that must be taken by our elected leaders in order to begin healing the vitriolic divides that have plagued our nation and poisoned our politics.
Thanks for all you do,
-- Ben Jealous, President
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