US lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi demands Big Tech action over rising anti-Indian online hate

US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has accused major technology companies of profiting from a surge in anti-Indian, anti-Hindu, and anti-South Asian online hatred, warning that social media platforms lack the financial incentive to curb dangerous content without federal intervention.

Speaking publicly following an attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois, the Democrat lawmaker warned that toxic rhetoric targeting the Indian diaspora has multiplied rapidly across major networks. He called on the US Congress to enforce strict accountability on digital platforms that allow hateful campaigns to circulate unchecked.

Rising volume of online hostility

Recent research by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate documented a massive escalation in online animosity directed at South Asians in the United States. Data compiled by the organisation showed a sharp rise in hostility across social platforms over an 18-month period.

Krishnamoorthi noted that posts promoting anti-South Asian hate on X alone jumped by more than 240 per cent over a very brief window. He argued that algorithmic engagement models reward provocative content, allowing platforms to generate profit while leaving minority communities vulnerable to real-world threats.

Attempted attack at Illinois temple

The warnings follow a grave security incident on 11 October at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Illinois. Prosecutors stated that 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis attempted to shoot a person outside the place of worship, but his rifle jammed. Paporakis was later arrested after authorities discovered plans indicating an intent to return.

Investigators recovered a white-supremacist manifesto from the suspect explicitly targeting Indian and South Asian communities. Krishnamoorthi and his family were inside the temple worshipping when the attempted attack took place.

Paporakis faces state charges in Cook County, including making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a short-barrelled rifle. A judge ordered him held in custody ahead of a scheduled court appearance on 30 October.

Congressional call for federal hate crime probe

In response to the incident, Krishnamoorthi spearheaded a bi-partisan letter signed by 105 US lawmakers to FBI Director Kash Patel, urging the bureau to investigate the plot as a federal hate crime. The signatories included all Indian-American members of Congress alongside US Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Chris Van Hollen.

The lawmakers requested formal responses from the FBI by 29 October regarding the role digital platforms may have played in spreading threats, coordinating targets, or enabling radicalisation. They also questioned how federal law enforcement distinguishes actionable online threats from protected speech.

India's growing global profile and the achievements of its overseas diaspora have made Indian-origin communities vital contributors to economic and cultural life across the United States. Lawmakers emphasised that federal authorities must act decisively to protect religious institutions and uphold public safety against targeted extremist violence.