Measure targets social media platform illegal activities

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is espousing the benefits of a measure he introduced, which seeks to aid law enforcement and Big Tech in combating illegal activities on social media platforms.

The Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee recently conducted a hearing in which Bilirakis’ Cooperating Among Police, Tech, and Users to Resist Exploitation (CAPTURE) Act was reviewed by the panel.

“Too often we’ve seen bad actors utilize social media platforms to facilitate crime by luring and exploiting children and other vulnerable populations,” Bilirakis said. “The law enforcement community then encounters unnecessary barriers when attempting to investigate these crimes. While Big Tech has repeatedly testified that the industry is working to identify and prevent its platforms from being used to facilitate criminal acts, progress has been painfully slow. The review and policy recommendations prompted by this bill will serve as a roadmap for both industry and government leaders as we seek to tackle the problem and improve public safety.”

The measure requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a comprehensive report regarding policy recommendations for Big Tech and law enforcement as a means of bolstering coordination.

Bill provisions include examining how social media companies are consulting/coordinating with law enforcement to address illegal content/activity online; recommendations to develop additional bills aiding efforts to combat illegal content/activity on social media platforms; and recommendations requiring social media companies to establish a sole point of contact for communication and coordination efforts with law enforcement.