Following the passing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has called upon the CEOs of Discord, Reddit, Twitch, and Valve to appear at an Oct. 8 hearing concerning online radicalization.

This hearing arises from claims that the alleged shooter, a 22-year-old white male from Utah, may have been swayed by extremist online groups. Comer remarked, “Congress bears the responsibility to regulate the online platforms that radicals have exploited to promote political violence. In order to avert further radicalization and violence, the CEOs must present themselves before the Oversight Committee and clarify what measures they will implement to safeguard their platforms from being misused for malevolent ends.”

Federal authorities are still investigating the shooter’s real motivations, although Robinson’s mother informed the police that he had left-leaning political views, as reported by USA Today. Shell casings located at the crime scene bore meme-filled inscriptions alluding to Helldivers 2, anti-fascist concepts, and furry culture jokes from 4chan. While initial theories pointed towards online radicalization, leaked Discord messages depict a more nuanced representation of a young man characterized by acquaintances as apolitical, more preoccupied with video games and firearms than ideology. A spokesperson for Reddit informed Mashable that their internal investigation has not uncovered any indication of the suspect’s engagement on the platform.

Earlier this week, Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that the shooter remains uncooperative, yet lawmakers continue to examine the platforms. These hearings have become commonplace in the United States, where mass shootings are prevalent and tech companies frequently face accusations of facilitating extremist networks. Both Discord and Twitch were scrutinized by state attorneys general following the 2022 Buffalo shooting at a grocery store.

Discord has expressed its readiness to collaborate. “We have received the Committee’s invitation and embrace the chance to testify,” a spokesperson shared with Mashable. “We consistently engage with policymakers on these vital matters and anticipate maintaining this significant dialogue next month.”