Experts tell House panel social media platforms are amplifying antisemitic content; urge enforcement and reforms

Witnesses told the House Homeland Security subcommittee that online platforms and encrypted messaging services are amplifying propaganda from foreign terrorist organizations and domestic extremist networks, contributing to radicalization that preceded three recent violent attacks.

"Online platforms like Telegram, among others, enable foreign terrorist organizations to share and promote their propaganda to thousands across The US and around the globe," Orin Siegel of the Anti-Defamation League testified. He described platforms where extremist content spreads and recommended stronger enforcement, transparency and funding to counter online radicalization.

Julie Raymond of the American Jewish Committee said social media companies "have a lot of work to do both in terms of reinstating previous policies" and increasing human moderation. She urged Congress to consider reforms to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and to require greater transparency and auditing of content-moderation practices.

Members raised practical suggestions, including expanding trust-and-safety staffing, using publicly available hate-symbols databases to train detection tools, and enforcing material-support provisions where platforms are used to coordinate violent acts. No legal changes were enacted at the hearing; witnesses offered to work with members on specific policy drafts and technical solutions.

Members from both parties emphasized balancing free-speech protections with the need to prevent violent incitement. Representative Goldman said platforms must "put people over profits" when enforcing terms of service, while Julie Raymond warned against using counterterrorism tools in ways that would infringe protected speech or due process.