big tech companies cannot be trusted to self-regulate: we need congress to act

The Ongoing Threat of Extremism and Disinformation Online

Two months have passed since Donald Trump’s removal from social media platforms following the events at the Capitol on January 6th. While the flow of potentially harmful commentary and false information from the former president has ceased, continued vigilance remains crucial.

Addressing the Root Causes of Online Extremism

The current focus should be on developing strategies to prevent future instances of extremism instigated by Trump, his supporters, and other individuals. A societal approach is needed to tackle the spread of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and falsehoods that undermine our democratic processes by damaging the integrity of our information systems.

Experiences with Big Tech Companies

At Color Of Change, my team and I have engaged in numerous discussions with executives from major technology companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google. These meetings consistently involved highlighting problematic content – hateful, racist, and deliberately misleading – present on their platforms.

We have also presented demands, backed by millions of members, for meaningful action to address these systemic issues. Unfortunately, these calls are frequently met with insufficient urgency and a lack of accountability regarding user safety and the protection of Black communities.

The Role of Tech Platforms in the January 6th Insurrection

The violent insurrection in Washington D.C. was demonstrably fueled and facilitated by technology companies. These companies had years to address the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation on their social media networks.

Many platforms effectively ceded control to far-right extremists, white supremacists, and domestic terrorists some time ago. Achieving full accountability for their role in the erosion of our democracy, and preventing recurrence, will require more than simply responding to an attempted coup.

Beyond Reactive Measures: The Need for Government Intervention

To rebuild trust in our information-sharing systems and dismantle online white nationalist networks, Big Tech must move beyond its typical, reactive, and superficial responses to the harm it causes. However, it is increasingly clear that federal government intervention is necessary to compel tech giants to act responsibly.

My experience leading corporate accountability campaigns and interacting with Big Tech leaders over six years has shown me that social media companies possess the power, resources, and tools to enforce policies that safeguard our democracy and communities.

Profit Over Protection

However, leaders within these companies have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to prioritize profit and growth over implementing and enforcing adequate measures to counter dangerous misinformation, targeted hate, and white nationalist organizing.

They employ extensive public relations efforts to create the illusion of addressing these issues. For instance, Facebook frequently adopts a reactive strategy, announcing policy changes in response to ongoing public relations crises.

Ignoring Prior Warnings

Prior to the insurrection, Facebook’s leadership disregarded warnings from organizations like Color Of Change regarding the dangers posed by white supremacists, far-right conspiracy theorists, and racist militias utilizing their platforms for organization, recruitment, and incitement to violence. They failed to ban Trump, strengthen content moderation, or modify algorithms to curb the spread of misinformation – despite years of recommendations.

A History of Neglect

These threats were evident long before the Capitol attack. They were highlighted during the #StopHateForProfit campaign last summer, which led to over 1,000 advertisers withdrawing millions in ad revenue from the platform. They were also apparent when Facebook agreed to a civil rights audit in 2018, following pressure from our organization and its members, and even before the tragic events in Charlottesville in 2017.

Limited and Delayed Action

Only after significant damage had occurred did social media companies take action and concede to some of our demands, including banning Trump’s accounts, adding disclaimers to voter fraud claims, and aggressively removing COVID-19 misinformation and posts inciting violence during the 2020 election.

Even now, these companies continue to avoid full responsibility, utilizing entities like the Facebook Oversight Board as a public relations shield while crucial decisions, such as the status of Trump’s suspension, remain unresolved.

The Engagement-Driven Business Model

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other Big Tech companies respond when their profits, self-interests, and reputations are threatened, but only after the harm has been done. Their business models are fundamentally based on maximizing engagement. Polarizing content generates more engagement, leading to increased attention that can be sold to advertisers.

Big Tech leaders have proven incapable of proactively and effectively self-regulating, necessitating immediate Congressional intervention.

Congressional Action is Essential

Congress must enact and enforce federal regulations to curb the excessive power of Big Tech. Lawmakers must create policies that translate into tangible improvements in our daily lives, protecting Black and other marginalized communities both online and offline.

Policy Recommendations

We need:

• Stronger antitrust enforcement to break up tech monopolies.
• Comprehensive privacy and algorithmic discrimination legislation.
• Expanded broadband access to bridge the digital divide.
• Restored net neutrality.
• Clarification that Section 230 does not shield platforms from civil rights laws.

Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges

Pressure from activists and advocacy groups, including Color Of Change, has yielded some progress. Last year, companies like Zoom hired chief diversity experts, Google blocked the Proud Boys website, and TikTok adopted stronger policies against hateful content.

However, we will not celebrate billion-dollar tech companies for simply fulfilling their existing obligations to address years of misinformation, hate, and violence. We will not wait for the next public relations campaign or until Facebook decides whether to reinstate Trump’s accounts. And we will not stand by while more lives are lost.

Holding Big Tech Accountable

The federal government and regulatory bodies must hold Big Tech accountable through immediate policy changes. Our nation’s leaders have a responsibility to protect us from the harms Big Tech enables, regulating social media platforms and altering the dangerous incentives within the digital economy. Without federal intervention, history is likely to repeat itself.