United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged technology companies to cease profiting from the dissemination of harmful content, citing their complicity in fostering antisemitism, racism, and anti-Muslim bigotry.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Guterres emphasized the necessity for tech firms to acknowledge their responsibilities and take action to curb the amplification of toxic content. He stated, “Tech companies should assume their responsibilities and stop profiting from the amplification of toxic content of all kinds,” underscoring the detrimental impact such content has on society.
Guterres expressed deep concern over the surge in anti-Semitism and other forms of religious and racial hatred, warning against the dangers posed by divided societies where extremist narratives can flourish, leading to violence and undermining democratic values.
Despite acknowledging the measures taken by social media companies to remove harmful content, particularly in response to events like the Israel-Hamas conflict, Guterres stressed the need for further action to improve transparency and regulation in the digital realm.
