Key facts
- The U.S. plans to livestream the execution of Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad on December 3.
- This would be the first public execution in the U.S. to be broadcast online.
- Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009.
- European regulators have warned tech companies against broadcasting the livestream.
- Australian lawmakers are calling for regulators to prevent such broadcasts on social media.
The U.S. Pentagon intends to livestream the execution of Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad on December 3, a decision that presents a significant challenge to social media platforms' content moderation policies regarding graphic violence. This planned broadcast would be the first time a U.S. death sentence is livestreamed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the plan, stating that the execution is "befitting" of Hasan's actions. Hasan admitted to fatally shooting 13 unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009. The decision has drawn criticism, with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy calling it "disgusting" and reminiscent of the Islamic State group's methods. The UN human rights office stated that livestreaming would breach the prohibition of torture.
US Vice-President JD Vance has cast some doubt on whether the livestream will occur. President Donald Trump has stated he believes Hasan deserves the execution by firing squad but did not specifically address the livestream aspect. A Pentagon spokesperson indicated that Trump had approved the defense secretary's recommendation.
Tech platforms face a difficult choice, as they have spent years restricting graphic violence and are under pressure globally to protect children from such content. European regulators are warning against broadcasting the livestream, while Australian lawmakers are urging preventative measures on social media. Katie Harbath, founder of Anchor Change and a former Meta public policy director, suggested that companies might delay their decision until the last minute, anticipating a potential withdrawal of the plan by the Trump administration.