A new bipartisan bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate how terrorist organizations use foreign mobile apps to recruit members, spread ideology and obtain funding.
The legislation, The bill, introduced on August 7 by Representatives August Pfluger (Republican, Texas) and Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, California), is a response to the “increasing use” of foreign mobile and desktop social apps, according to a press release. If enacted, it would require DHS, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), to provide an assessment of the terrorist threats posed by these apps within 180 days of its passage.
The law also provides for additional annual assessments for the next five years.
“More than 20 years after 9/11, the advent of cloud-based technologies has given terrorist groups even more tools in their quest for deadly chaos,” said Pfluger, chairman of the House Department of Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence.
“Foreign-controlled apps like TikTok and encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram have shed a disturbing light on the lengths to which America’s enemies will go to attack our way of life and radicalize young people with violent extremist ideology. They have also demonstrated the terrifying impact of their grotesque messages when spread on platforms with almost unlimited reach,” he continued.
The analysis is intended to show which terrorist organizations are using certain apps to “facilitate the radicalization and recruitment of individuals,” the bill says. It is also intended to show how online payment functions work in apps, including how they can provide financial support to terrorist organizations. The DHS is to make recommendations on appropriate measures to combat the threats.
In addition, each level of assessment must comply with laws protecting privacy and the civil rights and civil liberties of the individual, the bill continues.
Examples of apps cited in the legislation include WeChat, Telegram and the popular TikTok – which has come under close scrutiny from national security experts and lawmakers. TikTok is owned by China-based ByteDance and its use has already been restricted in about half of the states and in many countries, including Canada and the UK.
In April, President Biden signed a law banning web hosting services from supporting TikTok unless it is sold. 170 million Americans currently use the app, and lawmakers have raised concerns about the risk of disinformation.
Data on how apps like TikTok could be used for terrorist purposes would be collected by state and local fusion centers, including the National Network of Fusion Centers – interagency collaboration centers that provide resources, expertise and information to the center.
