The Pentagon Is Looking For A New Way To Check Social Media To Prevent Extremist Behavior In The Military

Supporters of President Donald Trump wearing gas masks and military-style apparel inside the Rotunda after breaching the US Capitol building, January 6, 2021. Saul Loeb/Getty Images The Defense Department says it "is examining a scalable means" to screen social media as a part of background checks. The statement, included in recently distributed training materials, indicates plans for a much more aggressive and methodical approach to monitoring troops' social media, one expert said. Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories. The Pentagon is looking for a new way to screen social media as part of its background check process, in an effort to prevent extremist behavior in the ranks.The Defense Department "is examining a scalable means of implementing social media screening in conjunction with background investigations," Pentagon officials said in suggested training materials distributed for a stand-down to discuss extremism.