Democrats Demand Social Media Action Plan on Adressing Online Threats Made After Mar-a-Lago Raid

Democrats on The Hill are demanding social media networks to release their action plans on how they are curbing the spiking number of violent online threats made through their platforms.

The House Oversight Committee is urging Meta, Telegram, Twitter, and five other social media networks to take action on the growing threats made against law enforcement agencies on social media.

Since Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago raid, right-wing extremists and MAGA supporters have been very vocal about their disappointment and anger at the FBI and Department of Justice's move to raid the Florida mansion.

Democratic Lawmakers Urge Social Media Networks to Release Action Plan Against Growing Violence Online

According to The Washington Post, the House Oversight Committee leaders wrote to executives of eight social media networks demanding their immediate actions in addressing the violent threats prevalent on the platforms.

Meta, Twitter, Telegram, and TikTok execs received a letter from the committee asking for pertinent data and documents stating their initial actions in curbing the threats on their platforms. The House Committee also contacted conservative platforms like Rumble, Gettr, Gab, and Trump's Truth Social.

"We are concerned that reckless statements by the former President and Republican Members of Congress have unleashed a flood of violent threats on social media that have already led to at least one death and pose a danger to law enforcement officers across the United States. We urge you to take immediate action to address any threats of violence against law enforcement that appear on your company's platforms," the committee wrote.

Oversight and Reform Committee Representative Carolyn Maloney and National Committee Subcommittee Chairman Stephen Lynch are spearheading the inquiry and investigation.

Earlier this week, the FBI and Homeland Security issued a warning to law enforcement agencies about the spike of online threats stemming from the Mar-a-Lago raid. The Oversight Committee included this report to highlight the severity of the situation.

Apart from this, the leadership also pointed out that these online threats have already been translated into real-life crimes. In Cincinnati, Ohio, a man who fired a nail gun on an FBI satellite office was killed during a violent encounter with the police shortly after.

Authorities have discovered that the gunman has posted numerous threatening messages on the Trump-backed social media network, Truth Social, days after the Mar-a-Lago raid.

Legal Reforms on the Way to Protect Inciting Social Media Violence?

Although the Oversight Committee pointed out that they are strongly supporting the First Amendment rights of Americans to speak out about government actions, they are also underscoring that threats and incitements leading to deadly violence are unlawful and unacceptable, CNBC reports.

Maloney and Lynch expressed that they are looking if legislative reform is necessary for protecting law enforcement agency personnel from these violent threats and whether they will increase coordination with other federal authorities.

Through the letter, the committee will determine what specific actions these social media networks are doing in responding to users who are inciting violence on their platforms.

As of this writing, Gab's CEO says that they are "considering" their response to the government inquiry. Meanwhile, Twitter representative Katie Rosborough confirmed the receipt of the letter.

Telegram's Remi Vaughn said they are combining user reports and proactive moderation in monitoring the violent threats on the platform.

Meta, TikTok, Truth Social, Gettr, and Rumble have yet to respond to the inquiry.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ivan Korrs

WATCH: Spike In Threats Against Federal Law Enforcement Following FBI Search At Trump's Florida Home - From MSNBC