Congress Summons CEOs of Reddit, Twitch, and Discord for Hearing Following Charlie Kirk's Alleged Murder
In the wake of the tragic murder of MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk, a U.S. Congressman has invited the CEOs of Twitch, Steam, Reddit, and Discord to testify at a committee hearing on October 8, 2025. The hearing aims to address concerns related to online content moderation and platform accountability, following the fatal shooting of Kirk, which has sparked discussions about the role of online platforms in promoting hate speech and political violence.
James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has expressed concerns about the potential exploitation of online platforms for nefarious purposes. In a statement published online, Comer suggested that future radicalization and violence could be prevented by ensuring these platforms are held accountable for the content they host.
The invitation for testimony was issued in response to the murder of Charlie Kirk, which has raised questions about the role of online platforms in promoting hate speech and political violence. The exact politics of the shooter, Tyler Robinson, have yet to be determined. Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, turned himself in to authorities the day after the murder.
Robinson allegedly discussed the plans on Discord, which is why James Comer wants to bring the CEO of Discord to a hearing. The bullet cartridges found near the scene of the crime were found to have messages engraved, including 'Notices bulges OWO what's this?', 'Hey fascist! Catch!', [Symbols that include an up arrow, right arrow, and three down arrows], 'Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao', and 'If you read this you are gay LMAO'.
Discord has stated that they continuously engage with policymakers on critical issues and look forward to continuing this important dialogue. As of now, neither Reddit, Twitch, nor Valve (the owner of Steam) have responded to questions emailed about whether their respective CEOs would be attending the hearing. Gizmodo will update the article when they hear back from these companies.
The indictment alleges that Robinson called Kirk full of 'hate'. It's unclear why Comer is also calling in executives who oversee companies like Twitch, Steam, and Reddit, but the chairman believes that Congress has a duty to oversee online platforms that have been used to advance political violence. The hearing is scheduled for October 8, 2025. Discord's CEO has agreed to testify at the hearing.
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