Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) on Tuesday suggested that terrorist groups like the Islamic State should be barred from using social media sites like Twitter to spread their message.
Poe cited recent examples of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, posting videos of murdered prisoners on Twitter. The Texas Republican argued that the American-owned company is essentially giving terrorist groups a free platform to reach millions of people.
{mosads}”Federal law prohibits giving aid or helping a designated foreign terrorist organization. These FTOs use Twitter, an American company, as a tool and no one is stopping them,” Poe said in a House floor speech. “Why are American companies and the U.S. government allowing social media platforms to be hijacked by terrorists?”
Poe called on Twitter to institute a new policy of removing accounts affiliated with terrorist groups.
“It’s time for Twitter to take down terrorist accounts,” Poe said. “Terrorists should not have access to an American controlled social media platform so they can kill, rape, pillage and burn.”
He maintained that any concerns about violating freedom of speech shouldn’t apply to groups threatening homeland security.
“There are no constitutional protections to those who incite violence. No one supports the Bill of Rights more than I do, but free speech has its limitations,” Poe said.