Renee DiResta, a former CIA fellow, has become one of the key figures leading US government efforts to stamp out disfavored speech on social media platforms since the 2016 elections. However, a growing number of journalists, analysts and researchers are now warning about the rise of a “Censorship Industrial Complex” in the United States.
This network is made up of various U.S. government agencies and government-funded think tanks that have coordinated their efforts to both spread disinformation and censor journalists, politicians and ordinary Americans alike. According to some critics, this complex poses a real threat to free speech and democracy.
Despite these concerns, Di Resta remains an advocate for stronger governmental coordination in order to get social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to censor more information. She has also called for creating a government censorship center within the federal government.
"Social media companies need help from trusted sources," said DiResta during an interview with NPR back in July. "They can't do it all by themselves."
Di Resta believes that her experience working at both DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and Google gives her unique insight into how technology can be used as both weaponized propaganda tool or as means for good.
"I've seen firsthand how bad actors use online platforms for nefarious purposes," she said during her interview with NPR. "But I've also seen how technology can be used positively."
While many people agree that combating fake news is important, there are concerns about who gets to decide what constitutes fake news or hate speech.
Critics warn that giving too much power over content removal decisions could lead governments down a slippery slope towards authoritarianism or even dictatorship.
As we move forward into increasingly digital age where almost everyone uses social media daily- it's important that we remain vigilant against those who would seek to control the flow of information online.