NY attorney general is investigating Twitch, Discord, and 4chan over Buffalo shooting

Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

The New York Attorney General's office has launched an investigation into several websites and social media platforms in response to the racist attack in Buffalo, New York. The investigation will look at platforms that may have been used to promote or plan the event.

James is focused on the platforms the shooter used to amplify the attack. The shooter planned his attack in a private server. In a document written by the shooter, he mentions using and getting influenced by both 4chan and 8chan, two sites known for a lack of moderation.

James said in a statement that they are taking serious action to investigate the companies for their roles in the attack.

My office is launching investigations into the social media companies that the Buffalo shooter used to plan, promote, and stream his terror attack.



We are investigating Twitch, 4chan, 8chan, and Discord, among others, all platforms that the shooter used to amplify this attack.

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) May 18, 2022

On Saturday, a white supremacist killed 10 people and injured three in an attack targeting a Black community. He broadcasted the entire attack on the platform, even as the networks worked to take them down.

The company will cooperate with the investigation. The shooting suspect's Discord server was private until about 30 minutes before the attack, when it was shared with a small group of people.

It wasn't immediately clear what the response would be to The Verge's request for comment.