Bills · HR 1212
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1212Telephone and wireless communicationComputers and information technology
Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act
INTRO FEB 11· LAST ACTION FEB 11
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
6BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it focuses on a specific and growing concern: how terrorist groups use modern technology, particularly foreign-made messaging apps, to spread their messages, recruit new members, and even fund their activities. In an age where digital communication is constant, understanding these online methods is crucial for national security. If this bill becomes law, the U.S. government will systematically track and report on these threats, potentially leading to better strategies to prevent radicalization and terrorist attacks.
Without this law, the government might not have a consistent, focused effort to understand how these particular foreign apps are exploited by terrorists. The regular assessments and information sharing are designed to give policymakers and law enforcement a clearer picture of the threat landscape and enable them to develop more effective defenses, ultimately aiming to make the country safer from online-driven terrorism.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct annual assessments for five years on terrorism threats posed by terrorist organizations using specific foreign messaging applications.
This creates a continuous, dedicated effort to monitor and understand how specific foreign apps are used by terrorists.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that the assessments include analysis of how these apps facilitate radicalization and recruitment, information on online payment features supporting terrorism, and recommendations for addressing these threats.
This ensures the reports are comprehensive and actionable, focusing on key aspects of online terrorist activity.
PROVISION 03
Stipulates that these assessments must be coordinated with DHS privacy and civil liberties offices and released publicly in an unclassified form, with a briefing to Congress.
This aims to balance national security needs with transparency and the protection of individual rights.
PROVISION 04
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to review and share information with State and local fusion centers regarding these terrorism threats.
This promotes better information flow between federal, state, and local authorities to counter terrorism.
PROVISION 05
Defines "foreign cloud-based mobile or desktop messaging applications" to include apps like Telegram, WeChat, and those linked to foreign adversaries or terrorist organizations, as well as ByteDance-owned applications.
This clearly outlines the scope of the bill and the specific types of applications under scrutiny.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 6
R· Texas
YRS IN OFFICE
5
BILLS LED
61
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 67%
DEM 2 REP 4 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSFEB 11
Introduced in House
FEB 11
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
FEB 11
Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1212
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 11, 2025
Last actionFeb 11, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2025
House BillHR 1212Telephone and wireless communicationComputers and information technology
Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act
INTRODUCED FEB 11, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 11, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
6
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
