Pentagon prepping program to screen military service members' social media for extremism: report

The Pentagon is preparing to launch a program that will screen the social media posts of military members for “concerning behaviors” amid a broader crackdown on domestic extremism, according to a report on Tuesday.

The Pentagon is expected to tap a private firm to run the program to avoid potential First Amendment violations, the outlet reported, citing a senior Pentagon official. The program will reportedly utilize keyword searches to identify potential extremist views. Officials are attempting to compile a list of keywords that would not violate freedom of speech protections. Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.