SR55

A Senate Resolution urging social media websites to halt posts discussing an ongoing emergency event.

Whereas, Social media use is growing among America’s public and has become an alternative source of news for many users; and

Whereas, Social media allows for the prompt spread of information across large geographical areas, which makes social media a useful tool for law enforcement agencies to use when updating the public during emergency events; and

Whereas, However, social media websites do not require fact-checking and often allow for the rapid spread of misinformation by its users, which can become especially problematic during emergency events; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Homeland Security reports that misinformation can be spread on social media websites both intentionally and unintentionally when the truth concerning an incident is difficult to confirm, and that misinformation during emergency events tends to increase when law enforcement agencies are slow to provide updates to the public concerning the incident; and

Whereas, A recent school lockdown emergency in Union, New Jersey was exacerbated by inaccurate posts within a Facebook group forum stating that a student within the school was armed with a fiream; a claim that was found to be false after a lengthy multi-agency response to the threat, which included the Union County Police Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Emergency Response Team, and K-9 units from the Union, Somerset, and Middlesex County Sherriff’s departments; and

Whereas, Many hoax threats of targeted violence, such as bomb threats, are also posted on social media websites which divert limited law enforcement resources and are costly for taxpayers; and

Whereas, Inaccurate social media posts can also lead to dangerous unintended consequences; in the weeks following the terrorist attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon, social media was utilized in an effort to identify the two primary suspects of the attack, which lead to the misidentification of a suspect and caused the misidentified person to take their own life; and

Whereas, Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, misinformation was spread on Twitter stating that emergency shelters would be checking the immigration status of those seeking shelter; a rumor which discouraged immigrants who were displaced by the storm from seeking assistance; and

Whereas, Social media websites should acknowledge the role they play in the dissemination of information during emergency events and halt posts discussing ongoing emergency events, so that accurate information concerning the incidents can be shared to the public by the appropriate agencies; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges social media websites to halt posts discussing an ongoing emergency event.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Chief Executive Officers of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Reddit.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the country’s most frequently utilized social media websites to halt posts discussing ongoing emergency events. Social media has become a commonly used tool for the public to gain access to news updates, including updates during emergency events. However, much of the information shared during these emergency events may be inaccurate.

The spread of misinformation on social media websites during emergency events can escalate emergencies as they are occurring and hinder emergency response efforts. Misinformation spread on social media websites during an emergency can also result in the diversion of limited law enforcement resources, heightened costs for taxpayers, and dangerous unintended consequences. It is imperative that social media websites recognize their role in the dissemination of information during emergency events and that they halt posts discussing ongoing emergency events.

Limiting discussion of ongoing emergency events will help to limit the spread of misinformation during emergency events.