Washington, D.C. — While internet platforms provide the world with more opportunities to connect, they have also provided a forum for certain groups to spread hate, fear, and abusive behavior. The deadly neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, was organized with the use of Facebook, PayPal, and Discord. During the 2016 presidential elections, Russia carried out an aggressive campaign to influence U.S. voters and undermine our democracy by spreading hateful messages through major online platforms, exacerbating racial, ethnic, religious, and gender divides. With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, warned just two months ago of a pervasive and ongoing effort by Russia to “drive a wedge and undermine our democratic values.”
Some technology companies are taking steps in the right direction to reduce hateful activities online, but more work needs to be done to protect our democracy. That’s why, over the past year, the Center for American Progress, Color of Change, Free Press, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and the Southern Poverty Law Center met with experts on terrorism, human rights, and technology around the world to gather insights on how hate operates online and how it can be stopped.
On October 25, please join the Center for American Progress, Color of Change, Free Press, and the Southern Poverty Law Center along with a coalition of more than 40 civil and human rights organizations for a discussion of their findings as well as the unveiling of a set of recommended corporate policies and terms of service to ensure that social media platforms and other internet-based services are not facilitating hateful activities. Panelists will share key elements of the policies to be released on that day and urge technology companies to adopt them in order to reduce hate on their platforms.
Press are welcome to RSVP by following this link.
WHO
Welcome:
Neera Tanden, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
Panelists:
Jessica J. González, Deputy Director and Senior Counsel, Free Press
Heidi Beirich, Intelligence Project Director, Southern Poverty Law Center
Brandi Collins, Senior Campaign Director, Media, Democracy & Economic Justice, Color of Change
Moderator:
Henry Fernandez, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
WHEN
Thursday, October 25, 2018
11 am ET – 12:30 pm ET
WHERE
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
For more information, please contact Rafael J. Medina at [email protected] or 202.478.5313.