Gottheimer, Bacon introduce bipartisan STOP HATE Act targeting extremism on social media
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) joined Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt on Wednesday to introduce the bipartisan STOP HATE Act, aimed at curbing the spread of terrorist propaganda and disinformation on social media platforms.
The Stopping Terrorists Online Presence and Holding Accountable Tech Entities (STOP HATE) Act would require social media companies to disclose how they enforce their content moderation policies when dealing with material posted by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Noncompliance would result in a $5 million daily fine. The bill also calls for the Director of National Intelligence to report on how terrorist groups exploit social media.
“We’ve seen an explosion of disinformation and antisemitic hate online — especially since the horrific October 7 terrorist attacks,” Gottheimer said at the Capitol Hill press conference. “Our legislation will be a new tool in our online arsenal to protect our nation against terrorists and foreign adversaries.”
Gottheimer cited recent examples of extremist content online, including antisemitic posts following the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum and disturbing content shared by the AI chatbot Grok, which praised Adolf Hitler and Nazism.
Bacon emphasized the need for accountability and zero tolerance for online hate. “Everybody in our country is entitled to respect and not to be the object of hate and scorn,” he said. “We need to hold these companies accountable and work with them to take it off the airwaves.”
Greenblatt called the legislation essential in addressing the global spread of hate. “Today’s extremists exploit social media to recruit, radicalize, and incite violence,” he said. “The STOP HATE Act is a vital bipartisan bill that will hold tech platforms accountable.”
The ADL’s 2024 Social Media Scorecard found major platforms regularly failed to remove antisemitic content. The STOP HATE Act is backed by the ADL and its leadership, who are urging swift passage of the legislation.
