Discord, Reddit, Steam, Twitch CEOs Called To Testify After Charlie Kirk Assassination

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On October 8th, the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, will hold a hearing featuring testimony from the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit.

Representative Comer stated the hearing will examine how people become radicalized online and the role social media platforms play in enabling politically driven violence.

Comer’s Statement

Representative Comer stated that the death of Charlie Kirk, whom he described as a husband, father, and patriot, was a politically motivated assassination. He believes that, following this tragedy and other instances of politically driven violence, Congress needs to investigate how online platforms are being used to encourage such acts. Comer is calling on the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify and detail what steps they will take to prevent their platforms from being used to promote violence and radicalization.

Discord Leak Raises Alarm

Following reports of a large data breach at Discord, authorities are requesting information from anyone who might have knowledge of the incident. A message posted on the dark web alleges that 2.1 billion Discord messages, voice recordings, and user details were released online, which could compromise the private conversations of over 39 million users.

On X (formerly Twitter), a user named 0HOUR shared details about a data leak and connected it to the recent attack on Charlie Kirk, posting: “Discord was hacked, and all 2.1 billion messages were released. Remember Charlie Kirk!”

Lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the connection between online radicalization and acts of violence in the real world. Congressman Comer highlighted the murder of Kirk as a stark reminder of this threat, urging Washington to take notice.

Growing Scrutiny on Gaming and Streaming Platforms

Following the murder of Kirk, platforms like Discord, Twitch, and Steam are facing scrutiny. The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was connected to Discord communities and reportedly had a relationship with someone involved in the furry fandom who was transitioning to a transgender woman. There are also reports that Robinson marked bullet casings with references to video games, leading to concerns about the connection between gaming culture and extremist views.

Hasan Piker, a host on Twitch, and streamer Destiny both received criticism for controversial statements about the recent killings, leading Elon Musk to accuse them of encouraging violence. Steam, a video game platform, also came under scrutiny when users pointed out violent modifications connected to politicians, which has increased pressure on those in power to take action.

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2025-09-17 22:22