Nikki Haley Proposes Verification Of Social Media Profiles Amidst Claims Of National Security Threat

Republican presidential candidate and ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has advocated for verifying identities on all social media profiles. Haley argues that anonymous accounts and bots spreading misinformation pose a national security threat.

What Happened: Haley voiced her concerns on Tuesday, pointing out the part played by countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea in disseminating divisive content on social media. “This is a national security threat,” she stated on the “Ruthless Podcast”, reported CBS News.

On Wednesday, during a conversation on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Haley clarified that her proposal aims to prevent foreign entities from posting anonymously, not American citizens. “I don’t mind anonymous American people having free speech — what I don’t like is anonymous Russians and Chinese and Iranians having free speech,” she expressed.

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However, Haley’s comments were met with opposition from her political competitors. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis retorted that Haley’s proposal was reminiscent of China’s restrictive online policies and emphasized the importance of anonymous political speech in the U.S.

In response, a spokesperson for Haley’s campaign defended her stance, stating that the objective is to impede foreign entities from creating anonymous accounts that sow discord. They believe this is a matter that social media companies need to address more effectively.

Haley and DeSantis are vying for second place in early-voting states. Haley’s proposal has also been rejected by other political figures and CEOs, who argue it infringes on free speech rights.

Image By Michelmond Via Shutterstock

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