1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern about the prevalence of foreign influence on our social media platforms and to urge immediate action to enhance transparency in this critical area of our national discourse. Recent developments on X (formerly Twitter) have shed light on a troubling trend. A new feature revealing account locations has exposed that many accounts branded with "MAGA" slogans, which appear to be advocating for American political interests, are actually based outside of the United States. This revelation underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in our social media ecosystem. The implications of this discovery are far-reaching and potentially damaging to the integrity of our public debate. Foreign entities masquerading as domestic political advocates can manipulate public opinion, spread disinformation, and undermine the authenticity of political movements. This is not a partisan issue; it strikes at the heart of our democratic process. I urge you to take immediate legislative action to address this issue. Specifically, I request that you: 1. Introduce or support legislation requiring social media platforms to clearly display the country of origin for all accounts, especially those engaging in political discourse. 2. Push for increased funding and authority for relevant agencies to investigate and combat foreign influence operations on social media. 3. Hold public hearings with tech industry leaders to discuss implementable solutions for identifying and mitigating foreign interference in our online political conversations. 4. Advocate for international cooperation to establish global standards for transparency in social media operations. The recent controversy surrounding the Department of Homeland Security's X account, which sparked speculation about its location, further highlights the need for clear, consistent, and trustworthy location data for official government accounts. Time is of the essence. As we approach future elections, the potential for foreign interference only grows. By acting now, we can safeguard the integrity of our online political discourse and ensure that American voices are heard clearly, without the distortion of foreign influence. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to address this critical issue and protect the authenticity of our national conversation.