In a fiery hearing before the US Senate, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued an apology to families who claimed their children had suffered harm from social media, particularly Instagram and Facebook. The hearing, which also featured executives from TikTok, Snap, X, and Discord, lasted almost four hours, with senators from both parties questioning the tech leaders on child protection online.
The discussion delved into ongoing legislation in Congress aimed at holding social media companies accountable for content posted on their platforms. Families, who alleged that their children had self-harmed or taken their own lives due to social media content, were present at the hearing, expressing their discontent throughout the session.
Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew voluntarily testified, while the heads of Snap, X, and Discord initially refused but were subsequently issued government subpoenas. Questions ranged from child protection against online sexual exploitation to data privacy concerns.
TikTok's CEO Chew faced inquiries about data sharing with the Chinese government, to which he denied any such activity. The hearing also touched on Chew's affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, which he denied, emphasizing his Singaporean background.
Mark Zuckerberg, who testified before Congress for the eighth time, faced intense scrutiny. Senator Ted Cruz confronted him about Instagram's approach to warning users about potential exposure to child sexual abuse material. Zuckerberg defended the approach, citing the "basic science" behind it and promised to investigate further.
In another exchange with Senator Josh Hawley, Zuckerberg directly addressed the families present, apologizing for their ordeals and expressing sympathy. The hearing highlighted the CEOs' differing perspectives on proposed online safety legislation, with senators expressing frustration at the lack of progress in resolving these issues.
Meta, prior to the hearing, announced new safety measures, including default settings preventing minors from receiving messages on Instagram and Messenger from strangers.
While the hearing provided an opportunity for senators to address pressing concerns regarding social media platforms, industry analysts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of such sessions in generating substantial regulatory changes. The discussion also revealed the number of content moderators employed by each platform, ranging from thousands to hundreds, depending on the platform's user base.
Parents who attended the hearing held a rally afterward, urging lawmakers to pass legislation, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, to hold social media firms accountable for the potential harms caused by their platforms.
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