Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2418
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Homeland security
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Political movements and philosophies
Research and development
Technology assessment
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: 

Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require that the criteria for the designation of colleges or universities as a center for homeland security include demonstrated expertise in countering violent extremism (CVE). CVE is defined as proactive and relevant actions to counter efforts by extremists to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize followers to violence and to address the conditions that allow for violent extremist recruitment and radicalization.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorized to: (1) establish one or more CVE Labs where students will develop and test technology-based CVE solutions, and (2) reprioritize grants to centers for homeland security to fund each Lab. 
 
An institution of higher education at which a CVE Lab is established shall ensure that the Lab's faculty:
 
 
 creates a curriculum for participating students to develop and test CVE solutions, that shall include a CVE orientation program during which federal officials shall brief students on precautions to protect themselves from becoming a target of terrorists;
 
 supervises any deployment of a technology-based CVE solution by a student;
 
develops a framework for participation and support of other programs that encourages peer-to-peer CVE solutions;
 
develops a common inventory of research, in conjunction with other centers that establish CVE Labs, on core CVE issues to inform CVE Lab curricula;
 
analyzes social networks to identify individuals on social media who are susceptible to recruitment to violent extremism and indicators of susceptibility; and
 
identifies experts who can apply CVE solutions to target susceptible individuals.
 
 
The bill requires institutions to report on, and DHS to commission an independent third-party assessment of, the impact of each Lab. The bill sunsets seven years after enactment.

action_date: 2016-10-27
text: 

Countering Online Recruitment of Violent Extremists Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require that the criteria for the designation of colleges or universities as a center for homeland security include demonstrated expertise in countering violent extremism (CVE). &quot;CVE&quot; is defined as proactive and relevant actions to deter efforts by extremists to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize followers to violence by providing positive countervailing alternatives to violent extremist recruitment and radicalization.
 
(Sec. 4) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorized to: (1) establish one or more CVE labs where students will develop and test technology-based CVE solutions, and (2) reprioritize grants to centers for homeland security to fund each lab. A &quot;technology-based CVE solution&quot; is defined as an instrument developed by a participating student that:
 
 
appeals to young consumers of online and social media;
 
counters online recruitment of violent extremists or builds resilience against online violent extremist recruitment among participating students' peers;
 
operates on a technological platform or is technological in nature, including social media campaigns and mobile software applications; and
 
is supported by empirical evidence and incorporates metrics for future assessment.
 
 
(Sec. 5) An institution of higher education at which a CVE lab is established shall ensure that the lab's faculty:
 
 
 creates a curriculum for participating students to develop and test CVE solutions, that shall include a CVE orientation program during which federal officials shall brief students on precautions to protect themselves from becoming a target of terrorists;
 
 supervises any deployment of a technology-based CVE solution by a student;
 
develops a framework for participation and support of other programs that encourages peer-to-peer CVE solutions;
 
develops a common inventory of research, in conjunction with other centers that establish CVE labs, on core CVE issues to inform CVE lab curricula; and
 
identifies experts who can apply CVE solutions to target susceptible individuals.
 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on, and DHS to commission an independent third-party assessment of, the impact of each lab. 
 
(Sec. 8) The bill sunsets seven years after enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-10-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.
action_date: 2016-10-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/29/2016 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-365.
action_date: 2016-10-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/29/2016 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-365.
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate