Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of supporting the censorship of free speech" for funding a group that conducts research and programs aimed at vulnerable communities.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently donated money to the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2). Harry and Meghan believe that the group's studies will help shed light on crucial issues, such as inequality and structural racism, or how vulnerable communities are undermined on the internet.
These advocacies will make up much of Harry and Meghan's work in the Archewell Foundation, their new charity to replace Sussex Royal. However, critic Emma Webb said in a talkRADIO interview that the Sussex's support for C2i2 doesn't make them politically neutral.
Webb also said that Harry and Meghan could wind up other people who have a different ideology and disagree with their stance. Their support, especially as influential people, could trigger a "serious crisis of free speech."
Toby Young, a British conservative member of the Free Speech Union, also questioned Harry and Meghan's support for C2i2. He described the research group the Sussex pair has aligned with as "hard-left political activists" who are the real threats of free speech.
The conservative said that C2i2's members censor those who disagree with their "woke agenda," but the group believes they are protecting the vulnerable from "hate speech." Young also accused the C2i2 of taking the rights of the people who might disagree with their beliefs.
Founded by Dr. Safiya Noble and Dr. Sarah T. Roberts, the C2i2 wants to create a fair, just, and sustainable internet environment. These experts have had done various studies on the impact of social media on online harassment and behavior.
Similarly, Harry and Meghan said that they want to have a more humane internet platform after the Duchess of Sussex said she was the most trolled person in the world in 2019. The couple has stayed away from social media for more than a year, but they haven't closed their doors completely on having an online presence.
Noble and the Duke of Sussex took part in a virtual panel in October 2020, where Harry talked about the spread of misinformation and hate on the internet. He said that what is happening in the online world is affecting the real world, prompting a global mental health crisis, and he wants those in the tech world to take more responsibility for what's happening in their platforms.
