WATCH: Patel warns about ‘radicalizing’ and ‘addictive’ nature of social media

FBI Director Kash Patel said that social media is “wildly out of control” in its ability to radicalize users and warned about the proliferation of abusive images created by generative artificial intelligence. Patel urged Congress to take action against tech companies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday.

WATCH: Sen. Kennedy presses FBI Director Patel to release the Epstein files

In a back and forth with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Patel said “the data shows that social media is wildly out of control when it comes to radicalizing.”

Patel agreed with Graham that Americans both have the right to free speech and that there are limits on that speech, especially when it comes to inciting violence or affecting people’s safety.

And he added that he’s advocated “for years” in favor of dismantling Section 230, the law that effectively shields social media companies from lawsuits for the content their users post.

Patel has been under fire in recent days for social media posts he made about the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation and for dining out at an upscale Manhattan restaurant hours after the conservative activist was killed.