‘Yes or no?’ U.S. lawmakers fume over Big Tech’s answers on misinformation By Reuters

By Diane Bartz and Elizabeth Culliford

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Of their first look earlier than Congress since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the chief executives of Fb, Google and Twitter had been requested by U.S. lawmakers whether or not their platforms bore some duty for the riot: “sure or no?”

Social media has been broadly blamed for amplifying calls to violence and spreading misinformation that contributed to the Jan. 6 try and violently overturn the election outcomes.

Solely Twitter Inc (NYSE:) CEO Jack Dorsey replied “sure” to the query, however stated the “broader ecosystem” needed to be taken under consideration. Sundar Pichai, chief government of Google father or mother Alphabet (NASDAQ:) Inc, stated the corporate all the time feels a way of duty however it was a posh query.

Fb Inc (NASDAQ:)’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated his firm was answerable for constructing “efficient methods”. He additionally stated that the rioters and former President Donald Trump must be held accountable.

Lawmakers broadly slammed the platforms’ method to false or harmful content material. The three firms have taken steps to curb misinformation however researchers have proven it’s nonetheless broadly current on the platforms.

“We fled as a mob desecrated the Capitol, the Home flooring, and our democratic course of,” stated Democratic Consultant Mike Doyle, who requested the CEOs about their duty. “That assault, and the motion that motivated it, began and was nourished in your platforms,” he added.

The listening to was digital however advocacy group SumOfUs erected cut-outs of the three CEOs dressed as Jan. 6 rioters on the Nationwide Mall close to the Capitol. One confirmed Zuckerberg because the “QAnon Shaman,” a shirtless rioter carrying horns.

Within the joint listening to, held by two subcommittees of the Home Power and Commerce Committee, lawmakers additionally questioned the executives on the proliferation of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation and raised considerations in regards to the impression of social media on youngsters – together with asking questions on Fb’s plan to create a model of Instagram for teenagers.

“Your enterprise mannequin itself has turn into the issue and the time for self-regulation is over. It is time we legislate to carry you accountable,” stated Democratic Consultant Frank Pallone, chair of the Power and Commerce committee.

Some lawmakers are calling for Part 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields on-line platforms from legal responsibility over consumer content material, to be scrapped or rejigged. There are a number of items of laws from Democrats to reform Part 230 which might be doing the rounds in Congress, although progress has been sluggish. A number of Republican lawmakers have additionally been pushing individually to scrap the legislation completely.

In written testimony launched on Wednesday, Fb argued that Part 230 must be redone to permit firms immunity from legal responsibility for what customers placed on their platforms provided that they comply with finest practices for eradicating damaging materials.

Pichai and Dorsey stated within the listening to they had been open to a few of the adjustments in Fb’s proposal. Pichai stated there have been some “good proposals.” Dorsey endorsed a few of the strategies from Zuckerberg however stated it will be troublesome to tell apart between small and enormous companies.

Republicans on the panel additionally criticized the tech giants for what they see as efforts to stifle conservative voices.

Trump was banned by Twitter over inciting violence round Jan. 6, whereas Fb has requested its impartial oversight board to rule on whether or not to bar him completely. He’s nonetheless suspended from YouTube.

At one level within the listening to, Dorsey appeared to develop annoyed and tweeted “?” with a ballot asking Twitter customers to vote “sure” or “no.” There have been greater than 40,000 votes forged in about half-hour.