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Sen. Markey, Rep. Jeffries Introduce Bills Ordering Reports On Radio, TV, Internet 'Hate Speech'
April 16, 2014 at 3:27 PM (PT)
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Sen. ED MARKEY (D-MA) and Rep. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY) have introduced bills in the Senate and House, respectively, that would create a report on "hate speech" on radio, television, and the Internet. The bills, the Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014 (S.2219 and H.R. 3878), would direct the NTIA to "examine the role of telecommunications in encouraging hate crimes," defining hate speech as the use of telecommunications "to advocate and encourage violent acts and the commission of crimes of hate, as described in the Hate Crime Statistics Act (28 U.S.C. 534 note)."
MARKEY said, “We have recently seen in KANSAS the deadly destruction and loss of life that hate speech can fuel in the U.S., which is why it is critical to ensure the Internet, television and radio are not encouraging hate crimes or hate speech that is not outside the protection of the First Amendment. Over 20 years have passed since I first directed the NTIA to review the role that telecommunications play in encouraging hate crimes. My legislation would require the agency to update this critical report for the 21st century.”
The suspect in the KANSAS shooting, FRAZIER GLENN CROSS/MILLER, tried to buy time on radio and television as a write-in Senate candidate to make hate speech of his own and was known as a white supremacist with anti-Semitic views, but is not described in reports as having been influenced in his alleged acts by others' broadcast speech.
JEFFRIES added, “The Internet has proven to be a tremendous platform for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. However, at times it has also been used as a place where vulnerable persons or groups can be targeted. I commend Senator MARKEY for his longstanding leadership with respect to combating Hate Crimes in AMERICA. He understands that in the digital era it is important to comprehensively evaluate the scope of criminal and hateful activity on the Internet that occurs outside of the zone of First Amendment protection. With the introduction of Senator MARKEY’s bill, we have taken a substantial step toward addressing this issue.”

