U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and August Pfluger (R-TX) are requesting information about detecting and reporting extremist content from online platforms Discord, Twitch, Reddit and GitHub.
Garbarino, the chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Pfluger, chair of the subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, said in the wake of the killing of activist Charlie Kirk, they want to know how the online platforms flag extremist content, escalate and share suspicious behavior and communicate with law enforcement. Kirk’s alleged killer is suspected of confessing to the crime in an online chat.
In Sept. 22 letters to the online platforms, the congressmen also asked for any internal audits or reviews that were conducted to identify vulnerabilities that violent domestic extremists may have exploited on the platforms.
“The assassination of Mr. Charlie Kirk serves as a sobering reminder of the escalating threats facing our nation from violent extremists,” the lawmakers wrote. “These heinous and senseless acts of violence further expose the challenging and sometimes dangerous nature of online platforms that serve to foment extremism, leading to deadly real-world consequences. In furtherance of our ongoing investigation into domestic terrorism cases, the Committee is investigating how specific bad actors may use online platforms to facilitate radicalization, disseminate extremist content, and aid in individuals’ planning efforts to conduct violent attacks within the United States.”
Earlier this month, the committee advanced legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats to the U.S. posted by terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Qaeda, using generative AI.
And earlier this year Pfluger reintroduced the Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act, which would require DHS to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats posed by organizations like ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas and others, using foreign clod-based messaging applications.
“This evolving threat underscores the importance of timely intervention and highlights the vital role digital platforms play in safeguarding national security,” the congressmen wrote. “The Committee has convened hearings and roundtables with law enforcement, technology experts, and community organizations, all of which have underscored the critical importance of early detection and the shared responsibility of digital platforms in this effort. The Committee must hear directly from these platforms to better understand what is already being done, and what more can still be done, to prevent extremist violence in the United States from being orchestrated through these online channels.”