The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing commenced with harrowing accounts of sexual exploitation on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, pointedly accused Zuckerberg of having "blood on his hands." He declared, "You have a product that's killing people," a sentiment that was met with applause and cheers from many in the packed hearing room.
The committee's chair, Democrat Dick Durbin from Illinois, echoed Graham's sentiments, criticizing the social media platforms for their inability to shield children from online sexual exploitation. Durbin stated, "Discord has been used to groom, abduct and abuse children. Meta's Instagram helped connect and promote a network of pedophiles; Snapchat's disappearing messages have been coopted by criminals who financially sextort young victims."
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The CEOs, starting with Discord's Jason Citron, defended their respective platforms, highlighting their child safety procedures and pledging to collaborate with lawmakers, parents, nonprofits, and law enforcement to protect minors. Meta has reportedly spent $5 billion on safety and security in 2023 alone, while TikTok plans to invest $2 billion in 2024 to address the issue.
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February 01, 2024
When Missouri Republican Josh Hawley challenged Zuckerberg to apologize to the victims present, the Meta CEO stood up and addressed those seated behind him, stating that their experiences were part of the reason Meta had invested so heavily "to make sure nobody has to go through the types of things your families have had to suffer." However, Zuckerberg declined to commit to Hawley's suggestion of establishing a victim's compensation fund.
Zuckerberg repeatedly denied a connection between Facebook and teen mental health issues, emphasizing the need to "look at the science," which he claimed does not support such a link. He did, however, acknowledge that "it doesn't mean individual people don't have issues."
February 01, 2024
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew asserted that his company is diligent in enforcing its policy of prohibiting children under 13 from using its app. Similarly, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), stated that her platform does not cater to minors. However, some Republican lawmakers shifted the focus from TikTok's policies to accuse Shou of sympathizing with China's communist party.
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A growing number of lawmakers are calling for measures to curb the spread of child sexual abuse images online and to hold tech platforms accountable for better safeguarding children. Wednesday's session is part of an effort to pass legislation after years of congressional inaction in regulating social media companies.
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Snapshot CEO Evan Spiegel expressed his support for a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms that recommend harmful content to minors. Yaccarino also voiced her support for the Stop CSAM Act, which would enable victims of child exploitation to sue technology companies.
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In his second appearance before Congress, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reiterated the platform's commitment to enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. However, some Republican lawmakers again accused Shou of sympathizing with China's communist party.
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