# 119-hr-488: Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2025

119-hr-488, Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] (R-AZ); status in_committee (as of 2026-07-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-488
- As of: 2026-07-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-488
- Congress: 119
- Title: Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] (R-AZ)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-11

## Summary

**Stops transnational criminal organizations from using social media to recruit people for cross-border crimes.** This bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the State Department to assess how illicit groups recruit on covered online services and to build a national strategy to disrupt that recruitment while protecting privacy and civil liberties. - Families and minors: Focuses on protecting privacy and civil rights for people targeted online and requires a civil rights and privacy assessment within 2 years after the strategy is implemented. - Platforms and operators: Defines "covered services" to include social media, messaging-capable apps, and real-time interactive platforms like multiplayer games and immersive tech. The strategy would encourage voluntary reporting of recruitment information while including a rule that does not expand enforcement or regulatory authority. - Federal and international response: Directs DHS, DOJ, and State to produce a joint assessment within 180 days and a joint national strategy within 1 year. The strategy must guide interagency cooperation, intelligence analysis, outreach in border communities, and recurring joint reports on evolving recruitment methods.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-01-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2025-12-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- National plan to curb cartel recruiting online: benefit, high. If enacted, DHS, DOJ, and State would give Congress a joint assessment within 180 days on how cartels use online services. Within 1 year, they would send a national strategy that targets recruitment (not recruits), protects privacy and civil rights, and does not rely on future laws. The plan would…
- Which online platforms would be covered: mixed, medium. If enacted, “covered services” would include social media. DHS could also name apps with group or direct messages, and real-time platforms like multiplayer games or immersive tech, when cartels use them. Plain text messaging and email without other social features would be excluded. A “covered oper…
- No new powers or funding: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would not give DHS, DOJ, or State new enforcement or regulatory powers. It would not authorize extra money; agencies would use existing funds unless Congress later provides appropriations. These guardrails could limit the program’s reach while setting clear limits on federal au…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-1004: Love Lives On Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1410: 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-488 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/488)

## Related
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-1004: Love Lives On Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1004)
- [119-hr-1410: 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1410)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3277)
- [119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3946)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-488 (as of 2026-07-11).