Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) will convene a hearing on Thursday, June 23 to examine U.S. efforts to counter radical Islamists online, and stop terrorists’ use of the Internet and social media to recruit and radicalize fighters.  The hearing, entitled “Countering the Virtual Caliphate,” will begin at 10 a.m.

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “ISIS relies heavily on the Internet to spread its violent ideology.  Through the Internet and social media, ISIS is inspiring attacks within the United States and projecting force across the Middle East and Europe.  Yet this administration’s response continues to be disjointed and inadequate.  This needs to change – quickly.  America’s national security depends on our ability to confront and defeat these terrorists online.” 

What:
Hearing: Countering the Virtual Caliphate

When:
Thursday, June 23 at 10 a.m. ET

Where:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses:
Mr. Seamus Hughes
Deputy Director
Program on Extremism
Center for Cyber and Homeland Security
George Washington University

Aaron Lobel, Ph.D.
Founder and President
America Abroad Media

Peter Neumann, Ph.D.
Director
International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation
Department of War Studies
King’s College London
***See www.foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.

***Coverage note:  All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.

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