New York Attorney General Launches Probe Of Social Media Companies Over Ties To Buffalo Shooting

Office of New York Attorney General has launched a probe on Wednesday into various social media companies over their connection and oversight of discussions that led to the horrific shooting in Buffalo on Saturday that killed 10 people and injured three.

The suspect, 18-year-old Payton Gendron, allegedly live-streamed the shooting on Twitch and discussed his plans on the instant messaging platform Discord before the shooting.

“The terror attack in Buffalo has once again revealed the depths and danger of the online forums that spread and promote hate,” the attorney general; Letitia James said.

“The fact that an individual can post detailed plans to commit such an act of hate without consequence, and then stream it for the world to see is bone-chilling and unfathomable,” James added. “As we continue to mourn and honor the lives that were stolen, we are taking serious action to investigate these companies for their roles in this attack.”

James said her office’s investigation will focus on Twitch, Discord, 4chan, and 8chan.

A spokesperson for Twitch previously told Fox Business that they took the Livestream down within two minutes.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also called out social media companies in the wake of the shooting and referred the investigation to the attorney general’s office.

Gov. Kathy Hochul sent a referral to the attorney general to investigate how the 18-year-old shooter, Payton Gendron, used social media to spread white supremacist beliefs and exploit his fatal attack.

“Publicly available information suggests that the alleged perpetrator was active on social media, especially on sites used by white supremacists threatening violence,” Hochul wrote in her referral to the attorney general.

“The CEOs of those companies need to be held accountable and assure all of us that they’re taking every step humanly possible to be able to monitor this information,” Hochul told ABC News on Sunday. “How these depraved ideas are fermenting on social media, it’s spreading like a virus now.”

Order will also require @nyspolice to file an Extreme Risk Order of Protection under the NY Red Flag Law when someone poses a potential threat

It's optional under current law.
"Now it will be a requirement," Hochul said.

— Kate Lisa (@KaitlynnLisa) May 18, 2022

Discord will cooperate with James’ investigation, a spokesperson for the company told FOX Business, noting that the shooter’s alleged diary was “posted in a private, invite-only server that no one but the suspect saw until minutes before the attack.”

“Our deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. Hate has no place on Discord and we are committed to combating violence and extremism,” the spokesperson said. “We are continuing to do everything we can to assist law enforcement and the investigation remains ongoing.”

The shooter allegedly posted a racist 180-page manifesto online shortly before the shooting, detailing his plan to target Black people. He is due back in court on Thursday after pleading not guilty to murder on Saturday evening.