Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee are pressing several social media platforms about their handling of extremist content following the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), head of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, sent letters to top executives at Discord, GitHub, Reddit and Twitch on Monday, requesting information about how they monitor extremist content and flag information for law enforcement.
“The assassination of Mr. Charlie Kirk serves as a sobering reminder of the escalating threats facing our nation from violent extremists,” Garbarino and Pfluger 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,” they continued.
The lawmakers underscored that extremists have increasingly turned to secure communication and anonymous cloud storage services to evade law enforcement.
The push to investigate these platforms comes after Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing Kirk earlier this month, allegedly revealed his involvement in the shooting in a Discord chat. FBI Director Kash Patel said last week that the bureau is investigating members of the chat.
“Beyond evading detection, these platforms can serve as crucial tools for global coordination, propaganda dissemination, and financing,” Garbarino and Pfluger said, adding, “This evolving threat underscores the importance of timely intervention and highlights the vital role digital platforms play in safeguarding national security.”
They requested documents and communications from the companies about how they monitor and flag extremist content and escalate suspicious behavior and credible threats to law enforcement, including the FBI.
The lawmakers are also seeking information about efforts by the platforms to increase visibility into potential threats and detection and accountability measures, in addition to reviews and audits examining vulnerabilities that can be exploited by extremists.
A Reddit spokesperson noted that it has not found evidence that Robinson was active on the site and has not received any requests from law enforcement. They also underscored the company’s policies against hateful or violent content.
The Hill has reached out to Discord, GitHub and Twitch for comment.
Several of the same platforms, including Discord, Reddit and Twitch, have been invited to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next month. Steam, an online gaming platform, also received an invitation.
