The impact of HB 9317 will be significant as it aims to fill the existing gaps in understanding how foreign applications can facilitate terrorism. The required assessments will analyze instances where such applications have been used by terrorist organizations for recruitment, radicalization, and financial support. This initiative will improve the federal government's ability to preempt and address potential threats posed by these technologies, thereby ensuring that appropriate measures and policies can be developed and implemented in response to identified risks.
Summary
House Bill 9317, also known as the Counter Terrorgram Act of 2024, is designed to enhance national security by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats posed by terrorist organizations using foreign cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging applications. It recognizes that the current landscape of terrorism is evolving and increasingly reliant on technology, particularly applications that may be operated by foreign entities potentially hostile to the United States. The bill mandates that assessments must be submitted to Congress every year for a period of five years, beginning within 180 days of enactment.
Contention
However, the bill may also generate debate regarding privacy and civil liberties concerns, especially with the increased scrutiny on technology and telecommunications. Stakeholders, including privacy advocates and tech industry representatives, might argue that the expansive oversight could lead to overreach and unjustified surveillance. Furthermore, there could be concerns about how the definitions of foreign applications and terrorist organizations might be applied, influencing broader enforcement actions that affect legitimate users of these technologies.
Relating to measures to address public safety threats in this state presented by transnational criminal activity, including by establishing a Texas Homeland Security Division, and to compensate persons affected by those threats.
Office of Homeland Security; transferring the Office of Homeland Security from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to the Department of Public Safety. Emergency.
Relating to homeland security, including the creation of the Texas Homeland Security Division in the Department of Public Safety, the operations of the Homeland Security Council, the creation of a homeland security fusion center, and the duties of state agencies and local governments in preparing for, reporting, and responding to cybersecurity breaches; providing administrative penalties; creating criminal offenses.
State government; creating the Targeted Violence Prevention Act; authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center to collect, analyze, and disseminate certain information to law enforcement and public safety agencies; codification; emergency.