Friend,
Earlier today, SPLC Chief of Staff Lecia Brooks testified before the
U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security, International
Development and Monetary Policy about how far-right extremists are
exploiting internet technology to create a broader, more decentralized
and more dangerous movement; how the movement finances itself; and
what steps we must take to confront the threat.
Read the SPLC's full written testimony here to learn more about
the state of domestic extremism and our recommendations to Congress.
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In her testimony, Brooks described how the proliferation of numerous
internet platforms has allowed individuals to engage with potentially
violent movements - like QAnon and Boogaloo - without
being card-carrying members of a particular group.
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The funding and financing of hate groups in this decentralized
landscape is also changing in important ways. In the past, hate groups
raised money by charging dues, selling products or requiring the
purchase of uniforms. Today, some white nationalist groups and
personalities are raising funds through the distribution of propaganda
itself.
In November, SPLC researchers reported that dozens of extremist groups
were earning thousands of dollars per month on a popular livestreaming
platform called DLive. Some DLive streamers were featured by House
impeachment managers as key perpetrators of the violence on Jan. 6
because they used DLive to livestream the events inside the Capitol
and on the grounds.
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Crowdfunding is also being exploited by hate groups to earn money in
this new decentralized landscape. Crowdfunding sites played a critical
role in the Capitol insurrection - providing monetary support
that allowed people to travel to Washington, D.C. They've also
played a crucial role in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in
legal fees for extremists.
The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 should serve as
a wake-up call for Congress, the Biden administration, internet
companies, law enforcement and public officials at every level. Here
are the five key policy recommendations to prevent extremist activity
that Brooks suggested during her testimony.
* Tech companies must create and enforce terms of service to
ensure that they do not become platforms for hate. They should
prevent their sites from being used by extremist organizations
to raise money for their illegal actions.
* These companies should commit to much more transparency and
regular outside audits to measure the financial harms caused by
their platforms.
* Congress should prioritize funding programs for research into
technologies that can be used to detect and prevent online
financial harms while preserving human rights.
* Congress should reject legislation to create a new federal
criminal domestic terrorism statute. If the past is prologue,
such a statute could be used to expand racial profiling or even
be wielded to surveil and investigate communities of color and
political opponents in the name of national security.
* Finally, we should make concerted efforts - across
government - to improve federal hate crime data
collection, training and prevention. Data drives policy. We
cannot address hate violence unless we measure it
properly.
Read the SPLC's full written testimony here to learn more about
the state of domestic extremism and our recommendations to
Congress.
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You can further support our work fighting hate and extremism by
sharing Brooks' testimony on Facebook and Twitter.
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Sincerely,
The Southern Poverty Law Center
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