As I’m sure you know, the political left would love to eradicate our right to free speech. Leave it to New York Liberal Governor Kathy Hochul to actually try and accomplish that.
Hochul, like the rest of us, has seen the problem of growing hate in the nation, most recently marked by antisemitism in the wake of the terrorist attack on Israel in early October. Or at least this is the excuse she’s using to expand her massive surveillance program for hate speech and hate crimes.
In a recent announcement, Hochul noted that the “New York State Police use publicly available social media activity and posts to assist in identifying criminal activity,” and has for some time. However, the “pool of information is so large and rapidly changing” that hardly a dent is being made on that front.
So Hochul is offering her specially designed Social Media Analysis Unit at the NYSIC to help. Specifically, the team will be getting an additional $700,000 to staff “a team of analysts to perform daily analysis of publicly available social media activity” to help solve crimes.
This team will also be used to crack down and even “reach out” to those Hochul says are conducting “hate speech.”
“We’re very focused on the data we’re collecting from surveillance efforts, what’s being said on social media platforms. 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.”
Kathy Hochul announced that New York is "collecting data" from "surveillance efforts" on social media
Hochul says the social media analysis unit will contact people who commit "hate speech"
This is to "ensure safety" Even though they got rid of Guiliani's Stop and Frisk which… pic.twitter.com/QjlPiXfRpz
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) November 13, 2023
Yes, she just admitted to watching you, collecting data on you, and being willing to “reach out” should she not like what she’s seeing.
Naturally, we don’t want to see hate being bandied about on social media, which could then instigate more than just speech. However, the problem comes when it’s just one side or the other making all the decisions on what that “hate” is.
And Hochul has already proved herself more than willing to censor on the basis of politics before.
Hopefully, her new plans won’t stand up to the letter of the law.
