New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday her state has “ramped up” social media surveillance efforts in response to increased antisemitism in the Big Apple.
In a speech, Gov. Hochul cited a rise in pro-Palestine rallies taking place across New York City, such as one over Veterans Day weekend which saw a protestor scale a light post to tear down U.S. and U.N. flags. These incidents, she said, are beginning to impact the way New Yorkers interact with one another online.
“We’re very focused on the data we’re collecting from surveillance efforts, what’s being said on social media platforms,” Gov. Hochul, a Democrat, said. “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 social media analysis union has ramped up its monitoring of sites to catch incitement to violence, direct threats to others.”
Gov. Hochul said her announcement followed a meeting with the state’s Jewish leaders, local law enforcement and federal authorities to combat hate crimes. She noted that residents across New York are “living in fear” since the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion of Israel.
“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,” the governor said. “Everywhere from college campuses, to our streets, to schools, to playgrounds; even as they’re entering their houses of worship.”
Gov. Hochul’s efforts coincide with similar moves by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who is calling to ban TikTok over an alleged rise in pro-Hamas content on the platform.
“TikTok—and its parent company ByteDance—are threats to American national security,” the senator wrote last week. “While data security issues are paramount, less often discussed is TikTok’s power to radically distort the world picture that America’s young people encounter.”
