James Comer, a Republican Congressman from Kentucky and Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has summoned the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify at a hearing on online radicalization. This decision follows the murder of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
In a press release, Comer emphasized that the government has a duty to oversee online platforms used by radicals to promote political violence. He stated that company executives must explain what measures they will take to prevent their platforms from being exploited for malicious purposes.
The House Oversight Committee hearing is scheduled for October 8. Letters sent to the CEOs indicate that the hearing will address “the radicalization of online forum users, including incidents of open incitement to commit violent politically motivated acts.”
Information regarding the suspect in Kirk`s murder suggests he was an avid internet and game user. He left references to internet memes and Helldivers 2 button combinations, actively used Discord and Steam, and was described by friends as “terminally online.” These facts, combined with public reaction, have led conservative politicians and media to call for stricter control over social media companies.
However, a scientific community already exists that has long studied the complex relationship between gaming cultures, communities, and violent radicalization. Researchers are focusing on how socialization and relationship-building within online games can influence radicalization to extremism. For instance, studies investigate the frequency of players` exposure to hate speech and harassment, the existence of extremist communities on Steam, and methods to build resilience against radicalization within gaming communities.
This research community has consistently emphasized that there is no direct evidence linking gaming to violence. Video games are often targeted after violent incidents, despite scarce proof of such a direct connection. Sociologists have been studying the effects of gaming since the 1990s and have found, at best, mixed results regarding controversial claims about the link between games and violence.
Despite this cautious approach and focus on understanding the causes and conditions of violence in gaming contexts, the activities of this research community have been significantly curtailed due to recent initiatives by the current U.S. administration. A significant portion of the research, including that mentioned in the article, was funded by the Department of Homeland Security`s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant program, which was substantially cut in July. Other research was funded by the National Institute for Health, which has also faced severe grant reductions.