Watch CBS News

App To Offer Law Enforcement Real-Time Tracking Of Online Hate Speech

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The fight against online hate speech will now be available on your smartphone.

KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports on the partnership between the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Jewish community leaders.

Podcast

The Simon Weisenthal Center released its 14th annual "Digital Terrorism And Hate" report available online and announced its cooperation with Sheriff Lee Baca to provide law enforcement with specialized access to terrorism analysis and public reports of suspicious activity.

The report and real-time information — which will now be available via a password-sensitive app for use on Apple OS and Android phones — cites 15,000 problematic websites, social media outlets and networks advocating hate or terror on the Internet.

Associate Dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper said the new password-sensitive smart phone app will "give the broader law enforcement community an opportunity to be in touch with us 24/7".

Cooper said the center wants social media groups like Facebook and YouTube — which earned an A- and a C- for their respective policies — to take further action to prevent hate groups from posting content that can train terrorists.

Baca pledged to quickly integrate the system into his Homeland Security Bureau and other agencies.

"Law enforcement cannot afford to go it alone," said Baca. "We need partners, we need educational institutions like the Simon Weisenthal Center to work closely with local law enforcement."

Currently, only about 47 percent of law enforcement agencies have social media units or investigators to help them investigate so-called "homegrown" terror groups on the Internet, according to the report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.