Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2025

This bill tells the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State to crack down on how cartels and other cross‑border criminal groups use social media and other online services to recruit people in the United States. Within 180 days, they must submit a joint assessment of how these groups use apps and platforms to recruit and to carry out crimes like drug and gun trafficking, human smuggling (with special focus on children), and moving illegal cash . Within one year, they must deliver a national strategy to fight this recruitment, improve cooperation across agencies, boost intelligence work, partner with foreign governments, and step up outreach to youth in border communities so kids understand these tactics and the risks .

The plan must protect privacy and civil rights, focusing enforcement on the criminal recruiters—not the people they target. Regular progress reports are required after the strategy starts, and there will be an additional review of privacy and civil rights protections. The bill does not add new law‑enforcement powers and does not authorize new funding for this work .

• Who is affected: People in border communities (especially youth), social media users, and agencies like DHS, DOJ, and State. Criminal groups using online services are the focus .
• What changes: A government‑wide plan to detect and stop online cartel recruiting, more coordination with local, Tribal, and state partners, international cooperation, and public education; with strong privacy and civil rights safeguards .
• When: Assessment due in 180 days; strategy due in 1 year; implementation begins 90 days after the strategy is submitted; progress reports every 6 months for 5 years; a civil rights/privacy review within 2 years of implementation .