The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Thursday that it is pushing for a new law specifically targeting nihilistic violent extremism (NVE), arguing that existing statutes are insufficient to prosecute online grooming and exploitation linked to violent acts. The proposal was reported by BusinessWorld.
The push follows a Senate hearing where lawmakers examined the recent Tacloban school shooting, which raised concerns about how extremist content spreads online and radicalizes individuals. Officials emphasized that current laws do not adequately cover the digital grooming methods used by NVE groups.
The DoJ is expected to work with Congress to draft the measure, which would define NVE and establish penalties for related offenses. Legal experts have noted the challenge of balancing security measures with civil liberties in the proposed legislation.