Nikki Haley is branded a ‘fascist’ for proposing ALL social media users be forced to verify their real identifies online because ‘anonymous’ posts are a ‘national security threat’

Nikki Haley sparked a firestorm Tuesday by saying the way to reduce anti-Semitism and misinformation online was to force social media users to reveal their true identities — a proposal some said was fascist.

Haley appeared on Fox News and was asked what she would do to combat hate speech online.

She said social media companies must do more to combat fake accounts, trolls and bots.

“Anti-Semitism was always bubbling beneath the surface, but now we see this massive exaggeration of it, but no one is talking about why,” she said.

“The truth is, if you look at social media, the misinformation and dramatic aspects of social media are driving this. Why? Because it is being pushed by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.”

Haley said ending anonymity would make social media users more civilized and reduce the spread of hate speech

She said she would make it a priority to get social media companies to lift the lid on their users.

“If I come into power, the first thing we have to do is: social media companies have to show America their algorithms. Let’s see why they’re pushing what they’re pushing,” she said.

“The second point is that every person on social media should be verified by his or her name.”

She said it was “a threat to national security” to allow anonymous accounts.

“If you do that, suddenly people have to stick to what they say, and then the Russian bots, the Iranian bots, the Chinese bots are gone,” she said.

“And then you’ll get some civility when people know that their name is next to what they’re saying, and they know that their pastor and their family member will see it. It will help our children, and it will help our country.”

Her proposal was met with outrage from all sides, with journalist Yashar Ali saying it was “an outrageous and dangerous proposal.”

He added: “It’s the kind of change a fascist demands, but she’s doing it under the guise of civility and getting rid of bots.

“What this kind of change will put an end to is Iranian, Chinese and Russian dissidents. The courageous people who speak out and organize against authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.’

Her Republican rivals for president, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, also condemned the idea.

DeSantis, who has seen Haley closing in on him for second place behind Donald Trump, said it was “dangerous and unconstitutional.”

The governor of Florida said, “Do you know who anonymous writers were back then? Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison when they wrote the Federalist Papers.

“They were not threats to national security, nor are the many conservative Americans across the country who are exercising their constitutional right to express their opinions without fear of being harassed or excluded by the school they attend or the company they work for.’

Ramaswamy accused Haley of promoting censorship.

“@NikkiHaley is *openly* pushing for the use of private tech companies to censor speeches,” he said.

“This is a blatant violation of the Constitution and straight out of the Democrats’ playbook. “Any politician who thinks it’s okay for the government to use the private sector as a censorship agency should not be allowed anywhere near the White House.”

Charlie Kirk, founder of the pro-Trump youth group Turning Point USA, said anonymity is an essential aspect of freedom of expression.

‘Nikki Haley says ‘every person on social media should be name-verified’ for ‘national security’ sake.

‘Nice try, Nikki. Anonymous speech is a core part of free speech – which the Founders knew, as many of them (including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison) wrote anonymously.”