Countering Extremism: Social Media and Surveillance in California

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Mass shootings in Paris, Colorado Springs and San Bernardino have generated more pressure than ever on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. They're being asked to monitor messages worldwide, alert federal officials and take threats and hate-speech off line — without becoming agents of government or ideological censors. At the local level, the LAPD and county sheriffs rely on community partnerships to find out when ideas might turn into violent action — at the risk of religious profiling that's illegal and counter-productive. We look at challenges that can't be avoided.

California's Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is planning to re-introduce legislation requiring Facebook Twitter, YouTube and other social media to alert federal officials about terrorist activity online. They've beaten back such proposals before. But the tech firms, the FBI and the NSA aren't the only agencies monitoring social media. The LAPD and local sheriffs are also in on the act. And electronic monitoring isn't the only tool being used by local police.

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Credits

Guests:

Host:

Warren Olney

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Gideon Brower