Comer calls on Discord and Reddit CEOs to testify over online radicalization after Kirk assassination
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has called for a full committee hearing on October 8 to address the issue of online radicalization following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Comer has requested the CEOs of major online platforms-Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit-to testify and explain what measures their companies are taking to prevent their services from being used to promote political violence. The hearing reflects growing concerns about how social media and online platforms may facilitate radicalization and incite violence. Governors Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Josh Shapiro (D-PA) have also highlighted the role of social media in fostering political violence, with Cox describing damaging social media algorithms as harmful especially to youth. Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of conservative group Turning Point USA, was assassinated at Utah valley University, with investigators linking suspect Tyler Robinson to the crime through DNA evidence.
Comer calls on Discord and Reddit CEOs to testify over online radicalization after Kirk assassination
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) called for a hearing to focus on online radicalization after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
Comer called on the Chief Executive Officers of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify at a full committee hearing on Oct. 8.
“The politically motivated assassination of Charlie Kirk claimed the life of a husband, father, and American patriot,” Comer said in a statement.
“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. To prevent future radicalization 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,” he continued.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the companies for comment.
The hearing is set to include Discord CEO Humam Sakhnini, Steam President Gabe Newell, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy, and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. This hearing comes amid growing concerns that online platforms like Discord are contributing to radicalization.
Govs. Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Josh Shapiro (D-PA) gave addresses on political violence following the attack, pointing to social media as a place that fosters this violence.
“I believe that social media has played a direct role in every single assassination and assassination attempt that we have seen over the last five, six years,” Cox told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press on Sunday.
“There is no question in my mind — ‘cancer’ probably isn’t a strong enough word,” he added. “What we have done, especially to our kids, it took us decades to realize how evil these algorithms are.”
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Kirk, 31, was assassinated last Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University. The Republican was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization that was instrumental in rallying young voters to the Republican Party and for Trump.
Federal investigators say Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man suspected of assassinating Kirk, has been linked to the crime through a DNA match and note.
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