U.S. Senator Warns and Questions Valve CEO on Efforts Against Extremist Content. He Sent Letter to Gabe Newell
U.S. Senator Mark Warner has written a letter to Valve demanding a more intensive fight against extremist content on Steam.
Last week we wrote about a report by the Anti-Defamation League, in which the organization accused Valve of tolerating extremist and hateful content on Steam. Now, a letter on this matter has been sent to the company by American Senator Mark Warner, addressed directly to Gabe Newell.
- Warner underlines that two years ago Valve received a similar letter from Senate members, in which the issue of extremist content appearing on Steam was raised. According to the senator, there is no indication that the company is taking this problem seriously.
- The politician is particularly concerned about the impact this could have on younger gamers, accusing Steam of having a big role in spreading harmful ideologies among young people .
- Warner warns Valve that if the company fails to make the required changes, the federal government will impose more rigorous oversight. The senator is also demanding detailed information, including the number of employees handling moderation on Steam, and information about the internal policy that shapes moderators' responses to harmful content.
This all sounds scary, but in reality, nothing will likely come of it. Freedom of speech is broadly defined in US legislation, and even hate speech is mostly permitted under the First Amendment.
Moreover, Mark Warner is a senator from the Democratic Party, which just lost the elections in the USA. The Republicans will not only take over the White House, but also the Senate, and the party's policy places much greater emphasis on freedom of speech. It's difficult to imagine a scenario where anyone from the American political class will be able to create problems for Valve due to lenient moderation on Steam next year. Nonetheless, the situation should be treated seriously.