Social media giants must take more responsibility

SOCIAL media companies have rightly been urged to intensify efforts to tackle hate crime after facing tough questions from British MPs in the Commons over their handling of online abuse. The three big guns of the internet, Twitter, Facebook and Google, took a pounding as they were accused of profiting from violence, and for failing to remove offensive content.

They were caught in the cross-hairs of a Commons Home Affairs Select Committee which also slated them for allegedly facilitating algorithms, used by the companies to suggest relevant content, which were helping to radicalise and groom users.

The grilling took place amid calls for them to face “punitive” fines for failing to react quickly enough to offensive material that incites hatred and violence. There is no doubt that they have a case to answer.

For too long, their ability to operate free of the sanctions and safety nets strictly policed in traditional media has had hugely harmful consequences.

One MP, Tim Loughton, said the technology giants were inciting violence through their inaction.

He said: “You are profiting, I’m afraid, from the fact that people are using your platforms to further the ills of society, and you’re allowing them to do it and doing very little, proactively, to prevent them.” Clearly, those who build social platforms have responsibilities. This demands more than clocking up clicks through generating heat, argument and acrimony, and watching the traffic, without having to worry about those who get run over in the chaos.