Section 70-C - Task force on social media and violent extremism1. Establishment and organization. (a) There is hereby established a task force on social media and violent extremism within the department of law.(b) The attorney general may appoint or assign a deputy attorney general and/or one or more assistants to serve on the task force.(c) The mission of the task force on social media and violent extremism shall be to study, investigate, and make recommendations relating to the use, operations, policies, programs, and practices of online social media companies and any role they may have in promoting, facilitating, and providing platforms for individuals and groups to plan and promote acts of violence, including but not limited to, the use of such platforms to: initiate threats against public safety or against a specific group of individuals based on an actual or perceived classification or characteristic; communicate or plan for criminal activity, including but not limited to, hate crimes, acts of domestic terrorism, or acts of domestic terrorism motivated by hate; spread extremist content; and aid in the radicalization and mobilization of extremist individuals or groups.2. Functions and duties. Subject to appropriations made available therefor, the task force shall have the following duties and responsibilities:(a) to receive and investigate complaints from any source, or upon its own initiative, allegations involving the use and role of social media platforms in broadcasting, streaming, promoting, or otherwise facilitating acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section;(b) to determine, with respect to such allegations, whether social media companies may be civilly or criminally liable for their role in promoting, facilitating, or providing a platform for individuals and groups to plan and promote acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section, or whether further investigation by the department of law is warranted or whether a referral to an appropriate federal, state or local law enforcement agency is necessary, and to assist in such investigations, if requested by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency;(c) to prepare and make public reports regarding the work of the task force, provided, however that such reports shall not include confidential or other protected information or any information that pertains to or may interfere with ongoing or future investigations;(d) to review and examine periodically the use, operations, policies, programs, and practices of social media companies and any role they may have in promoting, facilitating, and providing platforms for individuals and groups to plan and promote acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section;(e) to cooperate with and assist the division of homeland security and emergency services or any other state or local agency as may be appropriate in their efforts to counter acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section;(f) to review the final report of the domestic terrorism task force established pursuant to section six of part R of chapter fifty-five of the laws of two thousand twenty, setting forth the findings, conclusions, recommendations, and activities of the task force, to examine and evaluate how to prevent mass shootings by domestic terrorists in New York state in furtherance of the goals of the task force on social media and violent extremism;(g) to recommend remedial action to prevent the use of social media platforms by individuals and groups to plan and promote acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section;(h) on an annual basis, to submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly, no later than December thirty-first, a report summarizing the activities of the task force and recommending specific changes to state law to further the mission of the task force on social media and violent extremism; and(i) to perform any other functions and duties that are necessary or appropriate to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the task force.3. Powers. In executing its duties under subdivision two of this section, the task force shall have the power to: (a) subpoena and enforce the attendance of witnesses;(b) administer oaths or affirmations and examine witnesses under oath;(c) request and receive from the division of homeland security and emergency services, the division of state police, the division of criminal justice services, and from every department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state, or of any political subdivision thereof, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties;(d) provide technical and other assistance to any district attorney or other local law enforcement official requesting such assistance in the investigation or prosecution of cases involving the role of social media platforms in broadcasting, streaming, promoting, or otherwise facilitating acts of violence as described in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section; and(e) conduct hearings at any place within the state and require the production of any books, records, documents or other evidence he or she may deem relevant or material to an investigation.Added by New York Laws 2022, ch. 213,Sec. 1, eff. 1/1/2023.