Legislation that would require the development of a social media strategy to disrupt terrorist groups from recruiting and communicating was supported on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL).
The House passed the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act on Wednesday. The legislation will now be considered by the Senate.
Buchanan called on the administration earlier this week to immediately start screening the social media of anyone seeking to enter the U.S. through a visa program following reports that one of the San Bernardino terrorists pledged support to Islamic jihad on Facebook two years prior to the attack.
“We have heard repeatedly how terrorists abuse social media to recruit, fundraise and communicate with others to carry out their murderous attacks,” Buchanan said. “The White House should be doing this already without being instructed by Congress.”
A former acting chief of the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence bureau told the Los Angeles Times that some DHS officials have reservations about scrutinizing the social media posts of visa applicants because of concerns about civil liberties and privacy.
“It’s time to stop the political correctness and put the safety of Americans ahead of the privacy of foreigners,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan also voted for legislation last week that would deny visa waivers to those who have traveled over the last five years to Iraq, Syria and other high-risk nations.