Bill Overview
Title: Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report and implement a strategy to combat the use of social media by transnational criminal organizations to recruit individuals in the United States to support illicit activities in the United States or countries near a U.S. international border. DHS must also identify a designee within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to receive, process, and disseminate information about these social media recruitment activities. The information must be disseminated to federal, tribal, state, and local entities to support appropriate government functions, such as providing actionable intelligence to law enforcement.
Sponsors: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Target Audience
Population: People using social media in North America who could be influenced by crime organizations
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill targets transnational criminal organizations that use social media for recruitment purposes.
- The focus is on recruitment for illicit activities along or near U.S. international borders, suggesting a focus on border communities.
- Social media users, especially younger demographics who may be more active on social media, are potential targets for recruitment and thus may be impacted.
- Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will be impacted as they will implement the strategies and use the information disseminated by DHS.
Reasoning
- Given the scope and nature of the policy, we must consider individuals living in border states, young social media users, and law enforcement as primary stakeholders.
- Border communities may experience a decrease in cartel influence, leading to improved community safety and general well-being over time.
- Social media users across different age groups could be aware of this combat strategy, potentially affecting their sense of security online.
- Improved intelligence sharing could enable law enforcement to be more effective and targeted in their operations, potentially decreasing crime rates.
- Some individuals, especially those in communities directly affected by cartel recruitment activities, may perceive a high positive impact if successful.
- The budget constraints may limit the extent of operational capacity, focusing initially on the most impacted areas.
- Estimating the long-term effects is necessary as immediate impacts might be low, increasing in significance over time as law enforcement capabilities improve.
- Not all individuals will experience direct impact from this policy, as many social media users are not targeted by criminal organizations.
- It's anticipated that law enforcement officers working directly with the strategy will report an increased sense of efficacy in their roles.
- The impact on individuals who are indirectly affected by improved community safety might take longer to manifest in measurable ways.
Simulated Interviews
Customs and Border Protection Officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen how social media is used to lure young people into illicit activities.
- This policy gives us better tools to tackle this problem.
- I hope it leads to fewer families being affected by cartel violence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
College Student (El Paso, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Social media is a big part of my life but it can be a risky place.
- I'm hoping this new policy will make it safer for people like me.
- It might not change much immediately, but it's good they're doing something.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Social Media Influencer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm always wary of the influences on social media, especially for younger audiences.
- This policy seems like a step in the right direction.
- I use multiple platforms and have observed different risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Police Officer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time something's being done about online recruitment by criminal groups.
- It should equip us with better tools to prevent crime and protect our community.
- I believe the policy will make law enforcement more effective over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I appreciate the intent, I hope this doesn't compromise our users' privacy.
- Balance between safety and privacy should be maintained.
- The tech industry must work with the government to ensure effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Journalist (Tucson, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This strategy can change how cartels operate if implemented well.
- I'm curious how effective it will be in law enforcement circles.
- Following its impacts on court cases will be interesting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Social media is both fun and dangerous at times.
- I'm glad to hear something is being done to address safety, especially around here.
- It would be reassuring if it makes platforms safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Community Organizer (Nogales, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could help reduce cartel influence on our youth.
- We always need more resources to tackle these issues locally.
- I hope this leads to more education and prevention programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen my community's struggles with cartel activities.
- I hope this leads to a safer environment for my grandchildren.
- Time will tell how effective this policy will be.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Social Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A policy like this could mean fewer kids are exposed to these dangerous offers.
- Education and online safety are key components in reducing risks.
- I hope this initiative has real, tangible impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $55000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $65000000)
Year 3: $55000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $65000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- Effectiveness of the DHS strategy in actually reducing criminal recruitment via social media.
- Cooperation levels between federal and local agencies in intelligence sharing and action.
- Potential privacy concerns related to monitoring social media use.
- Evolving social media platforms and the need for adaptable strategies.