U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) questioned FBI Director Kash Patel on a range of security issues, including the influence of social media on radicalization and the ongoing threat from foreign terrorist organizations.
During a Senate hearing, Graham raised concerns about the role of social media in recent violent incidents, referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. He asked Patel if he believed that social media platforms were contributing to radicalization and inciting violence. Patel responded, “My belief is based on the data, and the data shows that social media is wildly out of control when it comes to radicalizing.” Graham agreed with this assessment.
Graham also discussed Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects social media companies from liability for content posted by users. He questioned whether there should be increased accountability for these companies. Patel said he has supported such changes for years. Graham stated, “We need to do this, folks. These companies are taking content that makes you sick, that could get you killed, get you poisoned, and there’s nothing we can do about it under our law… because of Section 230. If your child is being sexually groomed online or bullied online, and you go to the social media company and ask them to take it down [and] they refuse, you have like zero rights.”
The senator also addressed recent changes in FBI hiring policies that now allow individuals with law enforcement experience but without a college degree to apply as agents. Graham commented on the value of field experience: “As to how to be an FBI agent, you’ve made a decision that local law enforcement folks, [and] people who have served in law enforcement without a college degree are able to apply now. Is that correct?” Patel confirmed this change was accurate. Graham added: “Makes sense to me. Experience out in the field might be as valuable as a college degree, believe it or not.”
Regarding foreign threats, Graham cited former FBI Director Wray’s statement from December 2023 about widespread warnings related to foreign terrorist activity targeting the United States. He asked Patel how he would characterize current threats from such groups. Patel replied: “Foreign terrorist organizations have adapted and started utilizing online platforms and so has the FBI. While they are adapting [and] expanding how they harm our country, we have as well. They have not stopped. There’s been a resurgence [of threats] in places like West Africa and elsewhere of foreign terrorist organizations and also the newly emboldened drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. It’s going to take a whole-of-government approach.”
Graham further questioned whether Hezbollah is included among these threats and if it engages in narcoterrorism as well as terrorism more broadly; Patel affirmed both points and described Hezbollah as an absolute threat to the United States.
A video recording of Senator Graham’s questions during this session is available at https://youtu.be/4ZWFefjmDss?si=AAkrUA0gc7oJ35af&t=198.
