New York Governor Hoch signed the “Stop Hiding Hate Act” over the weekend, which requires social media companies to provide processes for reporting content within the platform and develop policies to address online hateful speech. The bill (S895B/A6789B) was co-sponsored by State Assemblywoman Grace Lee and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also participated in drafting the legislation, demanding that all social media companies operating in New York State must publish their terms of service in accessible language, including information on how users can report content on social platforms.
The “Stop Hiding Hate Act” also mandates that social media companies submit reports on their terms of service to the New York State Attorney General’s Office. This report must include whether the terms of service define and how they define hate speech, racism, extremism, the dissemination of radical false or misleading information, harassment, and foreign political interference, as well as the enforcement procedures and measures taken by social platform companies.
Assemblywoman Grace Lee stated in a release, “The ‘Stop Hiding Hate Act’ further regulates the accountability and transparency of social media, requiring companies to clearly outline the steps they are taking to eliminate hate from their platforms. This bill will provide important protections for all online users, making platforms more accountable to the public.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, in a statement, emphasized that social media companies must ensure that their platforms do not foster the spread of false information and hate-driven violence. The current social media environment allows malicious actors to easily disseminate lies, hate, and dangerous conspiracies. The “Stop Hiding Hate Act” will compel social media companies to report their management policies to the State Attorney General, providing transparency for public scrutiny, and creating a safer online environment.