The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) has
sharply criticized social media giants for not doing enough to degrade online
marketing of terrorists and hate groups.
The Center unveiled its annual Social Media Report Card, in New York City and Chicago. The launch focused on the recent deadly attack in London and the online emergence of extremists from the alt-right.
"Google/YouTube is under fierce
criticism for placing digital ads from major international brands like AT&T
and Johnson & Johnson next to extremist videos celebrating terrorist
attacks that should never have been allowed on its platform in the first place.
They earned a grade of “C-“ on the
digital report card for allowing the proliferation of 'how to' videos that
instruct people on how to build and deploy explosives from materials found in
the home. They also earned a 'D' for their failure to remove thousands of hate
group postings,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean and Founder of
Digital Terrorism & Hate Project.
Other social media giants did not fare
much better (See Report Card). Social media apps that provide encryption for
users received the lowest grades of all, with terrorists – including the London
attacker – using encryption (in this case WhatsApp) to hide their activities
from law enforcement and intelligence.
The SWC also announced that it is prepared to train New York City High School students to deal with the tsunami of online hate and bigotry.
The 2017 Digital Terrorism & Hate app is available at the app store, Google Play and at digitalhate.net.
Source: The Simon Wiesenthal Center
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