Congress summons CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify on online radicalization

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer has invited the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify at a full committee hearing scheduled for October 8, 2025. The hearing will be held to examine the radicalization of online forum users, including cases involving politically motivated violence.

Comer stated:

"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 explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes."

This hearing builds on prior congressional scrutiny of digital platforms' role in societal harm. In early 2024, CEOs of major social media companies including Meta, TikTok, and X testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee amid bipartisan concerns about content impacting youth safety, mental health, and exploitation. The consensus among lawmakers is that more effective oversight and enforcement are required beyond past hearings and proposals. These platforms' social and networking features seem to have been identified as venues where some individuals exposed to extremist ideas may interact.