Texas governor meets with tech officials about quelling hate

By CLARICE SILBER Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is meeting in Austin with officials from Google, Twitter and Facebook to discuss ways of combatting extremism in light of the recent mass shooting in El Paso that reportedly targeted Mexicans.
Officials from the FBI and state lawmakers are also taking part in Thursday’s roundtable discussion, which the Republican governor pitched as the first in a series of meetings focused on fighting hateful ideologies, domestic terrorism and cybersecurity threats.
Authorities say the man accused of carrying out the Aug. 3 attack at a Walmart in El Paso that killed 22 people and wounded about two dozen others confessed afterward that he had been targeting Mexicans. Police also believe he posted an anti-immigrant screed online shortly before the attack.
Abbott hasn’t proposed any new major gun control measures for gun-loving Texas.
Gun-rights advocates held a small rally outside the Capitol before Thursday’s meeting.