Congressman August Pfluger, who represents Texas’ 11th district and serves as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence (CTI), has requested information from several major online platforms regarding their policies for detecting and reporting extremist content. The inquiry comes after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Along with Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger sent letters to Discord, Twitch, Reddit, and GitHub. The committee is seeking documents and communications that detail how these platforms flag extremist content, escalate suspicious behavior, interact with law enforcement, and conduct internal reviews or audits to identify vulnerabilities exploited by domestic violent extremists.
Pfluger stated: “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.”
The letter from the committee further noted: “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.”
The CTI subcommittee has been examining threats posed by terrorist organizations as well as individuals acting alone who have been radicalized online. Recently advanced legislation includes Pfluger’s “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act,” which would require annual Department of Homeland Security assessments on terrorism threats involving generative artificial intelligence applications.
Earlier this year, Pfluger reintroduced the “Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act.” This bill requires DHS to assess terrorism threats linked to organizations such as ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, among others that use foreign cloud-based messaging applications like Telegram.
In March 2025, the subcommittee held a hearing focused on how foreign terrorist groups use internet technologies for recruitment and incitement within the United States.
August Pfluger began serving in Congress in 2021 after replacing Mike Conaway as representative for Texas’s 11th District (https://ballotpedia.org/August_Pfluger). He won his seat in 2020 by defeating Jon Mark Hogg with nearly 80% of the vote (https://ballotpedia.org/August_Pfluger).
