ALBANY, N.Y. — It is becoming more common that the connection to many hate crimes starts with the influence of social media.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul made an announcement on Tuesday that she will distribute $3 million to help with efforts to combat online violence and hate crimes like the Buffalo white supremacist mass shooting.
Gov. Hochul has made a call out to social media corporate leadership in response to viral TikTok content praising Osama Bin Laden.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services tracked data that discovered a 425 percent increase in online hate speech against Jewish communities.
One action made towards these data findings is the distribution of media literacy toolkits to help public school educators teach students how to spot misinformation, disinformation, and misinformation.
“We're deploying physical security resources, expanding our Threat Management and Assessment teams, calling for stronger action from social media companies, and encouraging families and communities to come together to fight hate. New York has always been a beacon of hope, tolerance, and inclusivity, and we will be defined by how we come together to condemn hate in all forms," Gov. Hochul said.
Over the holiday break, when students are home and using social media at longer hours, there will be increased monitoring of content.
The state will expand its Threat Assessment and Management training for support to all colleges and universities statewide with the new $3 million Domestic Terrorism Prevention Units.
Efforts of the Threat Assessment and Management Teams include:
- Use multidisciplinary teams of trained professionals to assess risk and create management plans for individuals on the pathway to violence;
- Recognize concerning behaviors and define appropriate escalation protocols;
- Establish a centralized reporting mechanism to receive reports of concerning behaviors from students and other bystanders; and
- Educate administrative staff and professors on risk factors and warning signs to identify concerning behaviors early before an escalation to violence.
Both State and international hate-crime events, like the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine War, have led to a trend of the spread of misinformation.
In response, Gov. Hochul has made $50 million available to law enforcement to expand the red flag law and gave $25 million to increase security.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner, Jackie Bray, says that it's more critical than ever to use the given tools.
Now more than ever, its critical young adults have the tools they need to be able to critically analyze what they see online and help prevent the further spread of hateful rhetoric," Bray said.