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Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., suggested on Sunday that the government get involved in regulating the internet to make people less likely “to fall for a bulls— demagogue like Donald Trump” in the future.
While appearing on the “I’ve Had It” podcast, Murphy discussed his book “Crisis of the Common Good,” where he warned that America will be “stuck” with leaders like Trump unless more government action is taken to tackle loneliness and powerlessness among voters.
“Those are the two things I think Americans are going through right now,” Murphy said. “They don’t feel powerful at all, and they feel lonely. And so, government should build a set of rules in which people feel more powerful — that’s why the minimum wage is so important — and people feel so more connected. That’s why, you know, rebuilding healthy institutions in your town should be a project that government is involved in.”
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Sen. Chris Murphy appeared on the “I’ve Had It” podcast to discuss ways to improve the common good. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Fair Share America)
These efforts included regulating the internet, which Murphy said could sway people away from politicians like Trump.
“That’s why regulating the internet so that you’re spending less time alone on Instagram should be an important government project,” he said. “And if people are feeling more powerful and less lonely, then they are going to be less likely to fall for a bulls— demagogue like Donald Trump. And what I say in the book is that if you really think about the things that make you more connected and make you more powerful, they’re not actually super partisan.”
Murphy, a frequent Trump critic, continued to urge efforts to affect change.
“The book basically says unless you fix what’s broken with the culture, you’re going to be stuck with people like Trump for a long time,” he added.
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Sen. Murphy claimed that loneliness and unregulated social media led to people supporting leaders like President Donald Trump. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Jay L Clendenin/Getty Images)
In a comment to Digital, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called out Murphy, saying, “Chris Murphy is a lightweight, anti-American disgrace who lies for a living.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for action to be taken against social media companies in an effort to protect young users. Many have suggested scaling back Section 230, which provides broad immunity to social media platforms for their content.
However, in light of recent discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), some Republican lawmakers have expressed skepticism at efforts to regulate technology, suggesting experts outside of Congress should manage AI.
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Lawmakers have been split on how to regulate technology, particularly in light of concerns about artificial intelligence. (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
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“I think the warning is real, and I think that AI is unbelievable — look, AI is going to cure cancer. AI is going to find solutions to get rid of diseases that we never thought we could get rid of, but it does need to have some oversight. It needs a kill switch,” Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Fla., told Digital last week. “But again, I don’t think Congress has the expertise to tell an emerging technology what’s the best way to go.”
