News/Commentary

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul announces Orwellian social media monitoring

November 14, 2023 | | Print Article

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught America anything it’s that once authorities realized how much power they can exert to control our lives, they would be reluctant to ever surrender that power.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that New York is stepping up “surveillance efforts” on social media, citing the way New Yorkers are “treating each other” as the impetus for the Orwellian campaign.

Hochul’s office announced Monday “in response to a rise in hate crimes and incidents of harassment, the State of New York will increase staffing to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force,” defining this as their “latest effort to fight hate in all its forms after the Hamas terror attacks, which have been followed by a reported increase in Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.”

“We have determined that the rising level of hate and antisemitism in particular poses a clear and present danger to the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” Hochul said at a news conference. “It’s painful to me as the governor of this great state, that has been known for its diversity, and how we celebrate different cultures, different religions, different viewpoints, it’s painful to see the cruelty with which New Yorkers are treating each other. Everywhere from college campuses, to our streets, to schools, to playgrounds; even as they’re entering their houses of worship.”

After noting that she deployed the State Police “to protect our synagogues and yeshivas and mosques and any other place that could be susceptible to hate crimes or violence,” and contacted the Department of Homeland Security to share information about potential threats, Hochul focused in on social media.

“Also, we’re very focused on the data we’re collecting from surveillance efforts. What’s being said on social media platforms,” the Democrat said.

“And we have launched an effort to be able to counter some of the negativity and reach out to people when we see hate speech being spoken about on online platforms. Our media analysis, our social media analysis unit, has ramped up its monitoring of sites to catch incitement to violence; direct threats to others, and all this is in response to our desire, our strong commitment, to ensure that not only do New Yorkers be safe, but they also feel safe because personal security is about everything for them,” she added.

Hochul told reporters the state “really increased our capacities for surveillance as well as responding to terrorist threats in the aftermath of the Buffalo Massacre that occurred on May 14, 2022.”

“If anyone thinks that they can get away with spreading hate and harming other New Yorkers and violating the law, you will be caught,” she warned. “You will be caught here in the State of New York because we are ramping up our resources to ensure that everyone can live freely.”

Ramping up social media monitoring so people can be free? Is that like George W. Bush explaining that he had to “abandon” the free market to save the free market?

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from X:

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Tom Tillison
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