The White House announced on Thursday that Vice President Kamala Harris was to lead an effort to oppose “disinformation” and online abuse.
The statement said that President Joe Biden would sign a presidential memorandum establishing the “White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse.” Harris launched the initiative with a survivor and expert roundtable on Thursday.
“The Task Force will produce recommendations for the Federal government, state governments, technology platforms, schools, and other public and private entities to prevent and address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including a focus on the nexus between online misogyny and radicalization to violence,” the White House said.
Harris addressed the effort at the White House as well.
“The internet is an essential part of life in the 21st century. Can’t get around it! Can’t get around without it!” she said.
“No one should have to endure abuse, just because they are attempting to participate in society!” she added.
She went on to paint a scenario where anti-abortion advocates could purchase digital information about a woman and use it in order to prove that she went to another state to obtain an abortion and turn it over to local authorities to punish her.
“This is a realistic scenario!” she claimed.
The announcement was met with skepticism, mockery, and online abuse by many on the right.
At Thursday’s White House media briefing, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre how the new effort differed from the “Disinformation Governance Board,” and she could not answer the question.
Harris’ office has been plagued with staffers quitting, accusations of incompetence, and reports of in-fighting with the White House. Harris has very a low approval rating, and a majority of Americans have said she is not ready to take on the roll of president if she were called to do so.
Here’s more about Harris’ poll troubles:
United States: Kamala Harris’ approval ratings continue to plummet | WION |World News |English News
www.youtube.com