Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) said on Monday that technology companies like Facebook, Apple and YouTube need to do more to combat "lies and hate" than take down only one website.
Murphy was referring to the conspiracy website Infowars being kicked off multiple social media platforms Monday morning. The social media companies cited Alex Jones outlet's history of hate speech.
"I know Facebook and Apple and YouTube have gotten so big they sometimes seem like the government. But they aren’t," Murphy tweeted. "They are private companies that shouldn’t knowingly spread lies and hate. They took a good first step today by removing Infowars."
I know Facebook and Apple and YouTube have gotten so big they sometimes seem like the government.
But they aren’t.
They are private companies that shouldn’t knowingly spread lies and hate. They took a good first step today by removing Infowars.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 6, 2018
The senator said Infowars is only the tip of the iceberg.
"Infowars is the tip of a giant iceberg of hate and lies that uses sites like Facebook and YouTube to tear our nation apart. These companies must do more than take down one website. The survival of our democracy depends on it," Murphy tweeted.
Infowars is the tip of a giant iceberg of hate and lies that uses sites like Facebook and YouTube to tear our nation apart. These companies must do more than take down one website. The survival of our democracy depends on it.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 6, 2018
In a press release, Facebook explained its decision to remove Infowars from its platform: "Since [taking initial action against Alex Jones last week] more content from the same Pages has been reported to us — upon review, we have taken it down for glorifying violence, which violates our graphic violence policy, and using dehumanizing language to describe people who are transgender, Muslims and immigrants, which violates our hate speech policies."
Jones responded by saying he was was the victim of "communist censorship."
The radio show host gained notoriety over his conspiracy theories and outlandish behavior. He faces lawsuits for claiming the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax and the grieving parents were "crisis actors."
Murphy didn't specify what additional accounts he would like social media companies to take down.