According to The Hill, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) asked Friday during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee whether the FCC has the authority to block such websites and social media accounts, following last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.
"Isn't there something we can do under existing law to shut those Internet sites down?" Barton asked.
"And I know they pop up like weeds, but once they do pop up, shut them down and turn the Internet addresses over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies to try and track them down."
"We cannot underestimate the challenge," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler responded. "I'm not sure our authority extends to [shut down the websites], but I do think there are specific things we can do."
Wheeler similarly told Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) that the commission does not have the authority to target the social media accounts of gang leaders in the United States that are contributing to urban violence.
"We do not have jurisdiction over Facebook and all the other edge providers. We do not intend to assert jurisdiction over them," Wheeler said.
But the chairman said he can use the FCC's bully pulpit to press tech CEOs on the issue, such as Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.
Many major social media companies have abuse policies that prohibit and remove accounts that are flagged for promoting terrorism or violence.
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