I rather agree with this opinion piece in the Independent today from Sean O'Grady. https://www.independent.co.uk/author/sean-ogrady. I think that there is only a tenuous link between hate speech on the internet and political assassinations. However, I would also agree that research should be done as to what influence that hate speech and abuse on the internet has on political and other forms of violence.
The problem with the internet is anything can say anything they like when it comes to abuse and threatening language nd get away with it. This abuse can come directly into your house; unhindered. If I invite someone into my home they come on the condition that they do not use hate speech or abusive language in front of anybody. I can control the situation. I can't easily control what comes into my house by way of the internet and neither can anybody else.
Political violence has always been on the agenda for the feeble minded, the dis-affected or the tyrant. Tyrants throughout history did not need the internet to induce political violence. Airey Neave and Ian Gow were two British politicians who were murdered, in recent times, before the internet existed as a public means of communication; their murders were organised by pen and paper and word of mouth assassins. The internet, however, has added a new dimension to how political and other murders can be organised by anonymous propogandists. The internet needs to have no pen and paper audit trail or even word of mouth inspiration. The internet is the perfect tool tool to allow malignant politically motivated conspirators to influence the feeble minded or mentally deranged to commit murder.
There is a case for social media companies to regulate themselves, they can easily scan their communications, by computer software, to look for hate speech and violent or abusive language or images; instantaneously. They can also watch out for those political propagandists who are attempting to influence followers to commit murders or terrorist crimes. The perpetrators could be warned that their activities are being monitored, and if they persist then their hate speech will be reported to the police or the secret services. I do not allow such abuse to be disseminated in my house, so why should "Big Tech Companies" allow it on their social media sites. This will not be an affront to free speech as political and other opinions can still be expressed. In fact, it might improve the quality of the expression of opinions, as people will have to think more carefully before they open their mouths.
No-one deserves to be murdered for their political views especially the two recent MP-victims, Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. Both these politicians were in different ways and with different views trying to make life better for their constituents. They were both innocent and no-one had the right to take their lives or induce others to do so. No-one has the right to abuse someone or use hate speech on-line or anywhere else for that matter. Social media sites have the power to stop this, and they should do it before the public demands heavy handed legislation to regulate their activities.
