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119-hr-1212119th Congress

Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a five-year program for annual DHS threat assessments and information sharing focused on foreign cloud-based messaging apps tied to terrorist groups.

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It would set definitions for which apps are covered, require coordination with intelligence and civil liberties offices, and push unclassified findings to the public and to state and local fusion centers.

  • Federal agencies: DHS, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, would produce an initial assessment within 180 days and then yearly for five years. Each unclassified report may include a classified annex and must be coordinated with DHS’s General Counsel, Privacy Office, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office.
  • State and local fusion centers: DHS would review threat information from the National Network of Fusion Centers, incorporate relevant data into its records, and disseminate DHS findings back to fusion centers to support local analysis.
  • Platforms and users: The bill defines "foreign cloud-based mobile or desktop messaging applications" and lists examples including ByteDance-owned apps, Tamtam, Telegram, VKontakte, WeChat, Weibo, and RedNote. DHS could add other apps that have ties to a foreign adversary or to a terrorist organization.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Five-year DHS reports on foreign messaging apps

This bill would require DHS, with the Director of National Intelligence, to publish terrorism threat reports on foreign messaging apps. The first report would be due within 180 days of enactment, then one each year for five years. Each report would be unclassified and posted online, with a classified annex allowed to protect sources and methods. DHS would brief key congressional committees within 30 days of each submission. Reports would cover radicalization and recruitment, payment features that could fund terrorists, and policy ideas, and would be cleared by DHS legal, privacy, and civil rights offices before release.

Which apps and groups would be covered

The bill would define which messaging apps fall under review. Apps tied to a foreign adversary, controlled by one, or connected to a terrorist group would be covered. Examples include ByteDance-owned apps, Telegram, VKontakte, WeChat, Weibo, Tamtam, and RedNote. DHS, with the Director of National Intelligence, could add other apps. The bill would also define “terrorist organization” using existing federal designations and definitions.

DHS would share fusion center threat info

The bill would require DHS to review terrorism information on foreign messaging apps collected by state and local fusion centers. DHS would add useful local findings into its records. DHS would send relevant information back to the fusion centers and their national network to improve awareness.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2025

  • Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/26/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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