Social media and gaming sites Reddit, Discord, Twitch and Steam have been asked to speak at Congress to discuss extremism on their platforms.
The CEO’s of Steam, Discord, Twitch and Reddit have been invited to testify before Congress to discuss the potential for radicalisation on online forums following the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
“Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” said Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, in a statement. “To prevent future radicalisation and violence, the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes.”
Comer would then go on to say, “The politically motivated assassination of Charlie Kirk claimed the life of a husband, father, and American patriot. In the wake of this tragedy, and amid other acts of politically motivated violence, Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence.”
Letters from the House Oversight Committee have been sent to Humam Sakhnini, CEO of Discord; Gabe Newell, president of Steam maker Valve; Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch; and Steve Huffman, CEO of Reddit, requesting their testimony on Oct. 8.
Days after the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the FBI announced that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was their prime suspect and was in custody. The suspect is reported to have used Discord to discuss the killing after the fact, and is alleged to have been influenced by “dark corners of the internet”.
As a result, the FBI have announced they will investigate more than 20 users who participated in a Discord chat with Robinson before Kirk’s shooting.
The Washington Post would publish screenshots said to be from Robinson, showing him admitting to killing Kirk on a Discord chat.
“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all,” a user in the chat that was allegedly Robinson said, according to the Post. “It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this.”
Investigators also shared a text exchange in which Robinson revealed his motivations to his partner.
If the CEOs accept Congress’s invitation, Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit executives will have the chance to deliver five-minute opening statements before answering questions posed by committee members during October’s testimony.
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