Press Release from Lauren Underwood’s congressional office October 6:

With 2020 Election Underway, Chairwoman Underwood Urges Social Media Companies to Address Spread of Election Disinformation Targeting Black Voters

Underwood’s first official action as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation

WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, is urging executives at Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to address ongoing reports of election-related disinformation targeting Black voters on their platforms.

During the 2016 election, social media platforms were used by malicious actors attempting to silence Black voters and sow racial division.  Four years later, social media companies have made too little progress toward containing this growing threat.

Underwood requested information on the steps the companies are taking to prevent voter suppression, interference, and disinformation targeting Black voters.

“The tragic reality of voter suppression tactics is that, too often, they work.  The 2016 election cycle saw ‘the first fall in Black turnout in 20 years.’

“While I appreciate that social media companies have taken some corrective actions since 2016, I am concerned that too many blind spots remain.

“As the new Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation for the Committee on Homeland Security, I would like to understand what measures you have put in place to counter voter suppression, interference, and disinformation targeting Black voters, as we head into the last few weeks before Election Day.”

Lauren Underwood, October 6, 2020

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The full version of the letters can be found here and below.

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COMMENTARY: This action by Congresswoman Underwood is nothing but an election year publicity stunt within a month prior to Election Day, using long discredited theories that Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign worked with the Russians to use social media platforms to depress turnout of black voters.

Black voter turnout was depressed because 2016 had the most entitlement-minded Democratic presidential nominee who took many voters, including black voters, for granted and voters reacted by staying home on Election Day.

The letters to chairs of Facebook, Twitter and Google/YouTube were dated Friday, October 2.

Whether Underwood will convene a meeting of her subcommittee between now and Election Day with representatives from the social media companies targeted by Underwood remains to be seen.

But if these kinds of “snipe-hunts” alleging racism where none exists will be the mantra of the Homeland Security Committee along with “white supremacy” and “militias” are the causes of the violence in this country the past few months, one should hope the House is flipped to stop fighting windmills.