John, On January 6, 2021, hundreds of violent insurrectionists stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. They were incited by former President Trump and the oft-repeated lie that the election was stolen, a lie amplified by social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and 4chan. This insurrection was symbolic of a larger problem. A handful of global corporations have taken control of the internet, the dominant medium of all modern communication and commerce, and have used that control to create and sell databases of personal information of all Americans and to promote unprecedented amplification of dangerous disinformation and violence. This has created a grave threat to our democracy and our people. In the face of this threat, our elected officials have failed to take any meaningful action. Free Speech For People is introducing the Digital Accountability Act, a model bill which would hold social media companies accountable for amplifying disinformation and violence via their online platforms. Sign the Petition: Show your support for the Digital Accountability Act. |