Kaine Calls on Google and Meta to Remove Content Depicting Murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) wrote to Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Lina Khan calling on the FTC to investigate Google and Meta’s failure to remove content depicting the tragic murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward during a live news broadcast in Virginia. Mr. Parker, father of Alison Parker, has repeatedly asked Google and Meta to take down the graphic content since March 2020 and October 2021, respectively. Despite his efforts, the videos are still widely accessible. Mr. Parker spoke about the damaging impact the footage has had on his family during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Mr. Parker continues to suffer because companies like Google and Meta are still hosting content depicting this tragic incident on their platforms,” wrote Kaine. “I am concerned by the approach taken by these platforms, which shifts the burden of finding and removing content in violation of the platform's Terms of Service onto murder victims’ families.”

In August 2015, WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were shot and killed by a former colleague during a live broadcast. For years, Mr. Parker, along with family members and organizations, has flagged videos of the incident that remain accessible on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Mr. Parker also submitted complaints to the FTC arguing that the remaining videos violate the platforms' Terms of Service and fail to provide consumers with a user experience free from harmful content, as the platforms claim. 

Kaine continued, “I urge the FTC to promptly respond to Mr. Parker's complaints and work closely with Mr. Parker to address his concerns. I also encourage the FTC to explore all possible avenues to ensure that companies like Google and Meta provide consumers with an experience free from violent and harmful content as claimed by their Terms of Service.”

Kaine has spoken out about this horrible situation on the Senate floor in September 2021 and June 2016. He has also led his colleagues in ensuring a safe online environment for online users, especially children. Last year, he cosponsored the Kids Online Safety Act and the SAFE TECH Act to hold social media platforms accountable for harmful content.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Chairwoman Khan:

I write today on behalf of my constituent, Mr. Andy Parker, and his request to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Meta and Google for their failure to adequately remove videos depicting the tragic murders on live TV of Ms. Alison Parker (Mr. Parker’s daughter) and Mr. Adam Ward. This letter comes four years after Mr. Parker submitted his initial complaint against Google, and three and a half years since he submitted his complaint against Meta. I request an update on these two complains and implore the FTC to thoroughly evaluate best practices to ensure social media platforms uphold their own Terms of Service, especially their policies for violent and harmful content.

In August 2015, Ms. Alison Parker, a TV news reporter, and Mr. Adam Ward, a cameraman for CBS-affiliated WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, were shot and killed by a former colleague during a live broadcast. The footage of this incident was captured by the perpetrator, and the live news broadcast was uploaded to several online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Since then, Mr. Parker has fought to have these videos removed from these platforms. In response, Meta and Google instructed Mr. Parker to individually flag and report each video of the murders on their platforms.

Subsequently, Mr. Parker, close family members, and volunteers acting on their behalf have repeatedly and individually reported videos depicting this horrific incident on all three platforms. For instance, the Coalition For A Safer Web has flagged videos of Alison's murder for years, and as of July 2023, continues to find these videos widely accessible.[1] Despite these efforts, only some of these reported videos have been removed, and many remain viewable on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The remaining videos still violate the platforms' Terms of Service and fail to provide consumers with a user experience free from harmful content, as the platforms claim.  

Mr. Parker and the Georgetown University Law Clinic filed their first complaint regarding this case four years ago. Unfortunately, Mr. Parker continues to suffer because companies like Google and Meta are still hosting content depicting this tragic incident on their platforms. I am also concerned by the approach taken by these platforms, which shifts the burden of finding and removing content in violation of the platform's Terms of Service onto murder victims’ families. I believe platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, should be responsible for promptly removing reported content that violates the platforms' Terms of Service.

I urge the FTC to promptly respond to Mr. Parker's complaints and work closely with Mr. Parker to address his concerns. I also encourage the FTC to explore all possible avenues to ensure that companies like Google and Meta provide consumers with an experience free from violent and harmful content as claimed by their Terms of Service.

I look forward to engaging with your agency regarding Mr. Parker's complaints and appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

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