WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security advanced Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bill to address terror threats posed by online radicalization.
The Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats to the U.S. posed by terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Qaeda, utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications for terroristic activity.
Watch Rep. Pfluger's remarks during the Committee's markup in support of his legislation HEREor by clicking the image below.
Read his remarks as prepared for delivery below:
I move to strike the last word -- I rise in support of H.R. 1736, the Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act.
The Subcommittee found that FTOs use GenAI for online radicalization by producing highly convincing propaganda videos to fabricate events and manipulate the perception of potential recruits.
Known terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda have even gone as far as to have AI “workshops” to train members on its use.
My legislation would require DHS to conduct annual assessments on the terrorism threats posed to the United States by terrorist organizations utilizing or attempting to utilize generative artificial intelligence applications.
This bill is crucial right now to respond to the emerging threats of tomorrow. The use of GenAI is on the rise, with new models coming online more and more frequently.
This ANS will not only provide flexibility for DHS to focus on the use of GenAI, including when it is incorporated into systems outside of applications like ChatGPT, but also grants the Department a full year after enactment to develop and coordinate the report with ODNI, allowing for necessary resources and staff sharing to fulfill the bill’s requirements.
I thank my colleagues for advancing this legislation, and I urge my Republican and Democrat colleagues to support this legislation.
