Jan 14, 2022 11:13:00

Finally, the investigation committee of the US Capitol attack case decided to summon Google, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit

by

Thomas Cizauskas

On January 13, 2022, a committee investigating the 2021 United States Capitol raid on Google's to find out how social media affected the process of the coup d'etat. Announced that it has delivered summons to its parent company Alphabet, Facebook's parent company Meta, Twitter, and Reddit.

Select Committee Subpoenas Social Media Companies for Records Related to January 6th Attack | Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol
https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/select-committee-subpoenas-social-media-companies-records-related-january-6th

January 6 committee subpoenas Google, Facebook, Twitter and Reddit in probe of Capitol attack
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/13/january-6-committee-subpoenas-google-facebook-twitter-and-reddit-in-probe-of-capitol-attack.html

On January 6, 2021, supporters of former President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, killing five people, including police officers. On that day, a joint session of the Senate and Senate was held in the Diet to finalize the outcome of the US presidential election, which was defeated by Mr. Trump, who was incumbent at the time.

A movie of the scene where supporters of Mr. Trump invaded the US Capitol and one woman was shot and died --GIGAZINE

Regarding this case, it has been pointed out that social media played a major role in the formation and incitement of extremist organizations, such as 'the extremists involved in the attack were organized on Facebook for several months.' increase.

It was pointed out that the attack on the Capitol by radicals was 'organized on Facebook for several months' --GIGAZINE

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The January 6th Commission, an independent investigative commission investigating the case, requested advance information from social media to investigate the attack, but Alphabet, Meta, Twitter, and Reddit It was said that sufficient answers could not be obtained from the four companies. So, on January 13, investigative commission chairman Bennie Thompson called for records of the spread of hoaxes, attempts to overturn the presidential election, trends in domestic violent militants, and foreign influences on elections. Announced that it has issued a summons letter.

According to the committee, YouTube under the umbrella of Alphabet was live-streamed during the attack, and there is a suspicion that it has become a platform for communication that became the core of the planning and execution of the attack. In addition, Meta's Facebook and other platforms share messages about hate, violence, and incitement, and spread hoaxes, disinformation, and conspiracy theories about elections, especially coordinating the 'Stop the Steal' campaign. Was used for.

The subreddit 'r / The_Donald ' that existed on the online bulletin board Reddit was the base for discussions and plans regarding the assault. Twitter also had interactions that aggravated suspicions of fraudulent elections, including a direct post by Mr. Trump, and the company was warned of potential violence on the platform in advance. It is believed that he was in a position to detect danger.

'How did the spread of hoaxes and violent extremism contribute to the attack on democracy?' Two important issues are 'measures taken to prevent hotbeds'. It is a pity that months of research have not yet provided the necessary materials to answer these basic questions. The Commission is working to answer for the American people and prevent this from happening again, and this important task cannot be delayed any further. ' ..