House Oversight asks Discord, Steam (Valve), Twitch & Reddit to testify on online radicalization

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has asked the CEOs of Discord, Twitch, Valve (Steam) and Reddit to appear at a full committee hearing on October 8, 2025 to discuss online radicalization. The request follows the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk, an act some have sought to connect to online communities the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, participated in.

In the committee press release announcing the hearing Comer said: “Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence… The CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes.”

Background: law enforcement notes Robinson engraved bullets with references to furry memes and the game Helldivers, suggesting immersion in online culture. A recent report of his Discord chats indicates his motives remain unclear even to close contacts. Congressional scrutiny of platforms after violent incidents is common — Twitch and Discord were investigated by New York and New Jersey AGs after the 2022 Buffalo shooting.

What to watch: the hearing will probe what platforms knew, what moderation tools they use, and whether they can prevent radicalization escalating into real-world violence. The Oversight Committee press release and coverage by outlets including Engadget provide more details.

More info:

• Committee press releases: https://oversight.house.gov/release/ (see release dated Sept 16, 2025)
• Engadget coverage: Engadget article

Questions? Share your perspective below: Are platforms doing enough, or will policy and oversight be required?