CTI Chairman Pfluger Probes the Policies of Online Platforms to Identify Potential Terrorist Activity Following Kirk's Assassination

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence (CTI), and Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) sent letters to Discord, Twitch, Reddit, and GitHub, requesting information on each platform's policies and procedures for detecting and reporting extremist content and suspicious activity in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

In the letters, the committee members request all documents and communications on the mechanisms used to flag extremist content, escalate and share suspicious behavior, and communicate with law enforcement. The request also includes a description of the actions taken to enhance visibility into potential threats, as well as any internal reviews or audits conducted to identify vulnerabilities that domestic violent extremists may have exploited on the platform.

"Online radicalization poses a serious risk to our national security and public safety. The tragic political assassination of Charlie Kirk underscores the urgency of this growing danger. Whether fueled by foreign extremist propaganda or domestic political polarization, radicals are increasingly exploiting online platforms to operate in the shadows. Digital platforms should be a space for free expression, not a tool for enabling violence. We must strengthen our ability to identify and stop these bad actors before more innocent lives are lost," said CTI Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).

Read more about the letters in Semafor hereor by clicking on the image below.

In the letters, the members write, in part, "The assassination of Mr. Charlie Kirk serves as a sobering reminder of the escalating threats facing our nation from violent extremists. 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. Accordingly, the Committee requests documents and information to facilitate its investigative and legislative objectives."

Read the letter to Discord, the letter to Twitch, the letter to Reddit, and the letter to GitHub.

Background:

The Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence has been leading the House Committee on Homeland Security's efforts to examine the evolving threat landscape facing the United States from terrorist organizations and radicalized lone wolf actors.

Recently, the Committee advanced CTI Chairman Pfluger's "Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act," which would require DHS to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats to the U.S. posed by terrorist organizations, like ISIS and al Qaeda, utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications for terroristic activity.

Earlier this year, CTI Chairman Pfluger also reintroduced the "Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act," legislation requiring DHS to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats posed to the United States by terrorist organizations like ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others, utilizing foreign cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging applications like Telegram.

In March, the Subcommittee also held a hearing to examine how foreign terrorist organizations use the internet and emerging technology to recruit, radicalize, and inspire attacks in the homeland.