US lawmaker voices alarm over 240% surge in anti-South Asian posts ‘Big Tech profit off hate’
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian American on Thursday has accused major technology companies of profiting from anti-Indian hatred, cited a sharp rise in hostile social media posts and called for federal action to hold online platforms accountable.
A group of 105 US lawmakers has sought answers from FBI Director Kash Patel by October 29 over possible racial and religious motives behind an alleged attack at an Illinois Hindu temple.
The Illinois Democrat pointed to an increase of more than 240% in posts targeting South Asians on X, warning that social media companies have little financial incentive to curb hateful content on their platforms.
“Anti-Indian hate is exploding on social media, and Big Tech is profiting from it,” Krishnamoorthi wrote on X on Wednesday.
“These companies have no incentive to stop the hatred they help spread. Congress must hold them accountable,” he added.
The warning came less than two weeks after an alleged attempt to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, where Krishnamoorthi and his family were present.
In a video accompanied his post, Krishnamoorthi criticized technology companies for what he described as their failure to tackle hostility directed at Indian, Hindu and other South Asian communities.
He cited a rise of more than 240% in hateful posts targeting South Asians on X.
A September 2026 report identified more than 542,000 anti-South Asian hateful posts on the platform between January 2025 and June 2026.
It also found that the monthly volume had increased by approximately 240% between January 2024 and June 2026.
The Congressman argued that technology companies benefit financially from content that spreads hatred while facing insufficient consequences for failing to act.
He called for federal intervention but did not identify specific companies beyond his reference to X posts or announce proposed legislation.
The warning follows an alleged mass shooting attempt at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Hindu temple in Aurora on October 11.
According to prosecutors, 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis allegedly attempted to shoot a man outside the temple, but his rifle malfunctioned.
Investigators said Paporakis, who allegedly held neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs, had prepared an eight-page manifesto that described violence against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship.
The authorities recovered a rifle, ammunition, body armor, and material associated with white supremacist ideology.
Paporakis was arrested on October 11 and subsequently charged under Illinois state law with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle.
A judge ordered him detained pending further proceedings. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
Krishnamoorthi led 105 members of Congress urged Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel to investigate the alleged
The signatories included every Indian-American member of Congress, the Illinois House Democratic delegation, and Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Chris Van Hollen.
The lawmakers asked investigators to examine whether racial or religious hatred motivated the alleged plot and whether online platforms or other individuals had
They also sought information about the FBI’s ability to identify credible online threats against Indian-Americans, Hindu-Americans, Sikhs, and other South Asian communities without infringing on constitutionally protected speech.
The letter raised concerns about messages posted by federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education, which lawmakers said risked reinforcing racial and religious stereotypes.
The group has requested a written response from the FBI by October 29, subject to the requirements of the ongoing investigation.
The demands place both online platform accountability and the federal response to threats against South Asian communities under congressional scrutiny.
