Photo: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg Via Getty Images
Five Tech Ceos testified Before the senate Judiciary commutee on wednesday as part of a Hearing Focus On Online Child Exploitation. The Leaders of Meta, Snapchat, X, Tiktok, and Discord were grilled by the bipartisan panel about how they have been addressing widespread Safety concertns with their platforms. The Hearing Room was full of family Memories Holding Up Photos of their Loved Ones-Children and Teens Who Died by Suicuses of Online Bullying or from Drugs Purchased on A Social-Media Site. Here are some of the Hearing’s Most dramatic moments.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Became Caught in a Heated exchange With Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. Their Contentious Back-And-Form Began When Hawley Asced Zuckerberg if he truly Believes there no link between mental health and social-media, as he has been suggestted in his opening staff.
“Senator, what i said is i think Important to look at the science. I know People talk about it as if that is something to say, and think the Bulk of the Scientific DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT,” Zuckerberg Said.
Hawley then Proceeded to quote segments of a study meta had Conducted on social media that Reportedly Found Instagram Can Worsen Body-IMAGE Issues for Its USSERS, Particularly Young Women.
“Your Own Study Says That You Make Life Worsse for One in Three Teenage Girls …,” Hawley Begin.
“That’s not what it Says,” Zuckerberg interrupted.
“That’s what it Says,” Hawley replied, “and you’re sitting here testifying to us in public that there’s no link!
The Most Notable Moment of the Day Came During Zuckerberg’s Questioning by Hawley. The Senator Asced Zuckerberg if he has Ever apologized to the families who lost love ons in connection with his platforms.
“There’s Families of Vicims Here Today. Have You Apologized to the Vicims?” Hawley Asked. “Waled you like to do so now? They’re’re;
Zuckerberg Tourned and Stood to the Audience, His Words Audible in the Room But Not Picked Up By His Microphone.
“I’m sorry for the self -iting you’ve all gone through. It”s terrible. of things that your families have had to suffer, ”he said, accorting to NBC News.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas Has Long Advocated for A Complete on tiktok, claingi it poses a significant securcy and privacy risk to Americans and dubbing It a “Spy App and a Propaganda Machine for the Chinese Communist Party.”
When it came time to quesion tiktok CEO Shou Chew, Cotton Him A Series of Rapid-Questions About His Personal Loyalties, Inquiring About His and HIS Citizenship. Chew explained that he hails from singapore and haad served his country in the military.
The Line of Questioning Quickly Spiral Out of Control. Cotton Asked, “Have You Ever Been A Member of the Chinese Communist Party?”
Chew, SEEMINGLY SHOCKED, Responded, “Senator, I’m Singaporean. No.”
Cotton Continued, “Have you Ever Been Associated or Affillyed with the Chinese Communist Party?”
Chew then replied, “No, Senator. Again, I’m Singaporean.”
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, The Committee’s Ranking Member, Took Zuckerberg to Task, Saying that and the Other Tech Leaders Sitting Him Share Responsibility for the Ills of Social Media.
“Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the Companies before us, I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your Hands. You have a Product that Killing People,” Graham said to applause from the audience in the Hearing Room.
He alludd to Section 230a part of the federal communications law that protcts Tech Companies from Being Held Responsible for What Their Post On Their Platforms.
“We have we had cigarettes killing people, we did something about it. Maybe not Enough. You’re gonna talc about guns, we have the atf. Nothing here,” Graham Said. “There’s not a damn thing we can go to. You can’t be sued.”
The senator then raissed the case of South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, WHO IS suing meta Because His Teenage Son Committed Suicide AFTER BEING CAUGHT UP IN A SEXTING RING ON Instagram. Graham Asked Zuckerberg What He Wold Say to Guffey.
“It ‘Terrible. No One Should have to go Through something like that,” Zuckerberg said.
Graham then asked, “Do you think that he was should be allowed to sue you?”
Zuckerberg paused and eventually responded, “I think that they can.”
Graham then Said, “Well, I think he should and that he can.”
Evan Spiegel, The Leader of Snapchat’s Parent Company, Snap, Inc., ALSO APOLOGIZED TO PARENTS WHO LOST CHILDREN AFTER THEY HAD PURCHASED Drugs the app.
“Mr. Spiegel, there are a number a number of parents who children have ben able to access illegal drugs on your platform. What do you say to this parent?” Asked Senator Laphonza Butler of California.
“I’m so sorry that we’ve not ben able to prevent these ferries,” Spiegel Said. “We work Very hard to block all search terms related to drugs from platform. We proactive look for and detect drug-related Content.”
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