Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), And Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Executives Grilled Over COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter Inc. (NYSE:TWTR), and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) CEOs were at the end of criticism from Congress members regarding their handling of online extremism and misinformation. This is the executives’ first appearance before lawmakers since the January 6 Capitol insurgence and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Social medial platforms on the spotlight for misinformation

Energy and Commerce Committee members grilled Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and  Google’s Sundar Pichai regarding their social media platform and efforts to stem vaccine skepticism and baseless election fraud allegations. During the hearing, opaque algorithms employed to promote misinformation and prioritize user engagement were also under scrutiny.

The US Capitol attack was the tipping point, and lawmakers feel that social media platforms need regulation. Lawmakers are planning to change the law protecting social media companies from liability for third-party content. During the session, House committee chair on Communications and technology Rep. Mike Doyle asked the executive if they felt they carried any responsibility regarding the attack, but neither was ready to answer “yes” or “no” as he had demanded.

Tech platforms not dealing with ani-vaxxers

Similarly, Doyle said that his staff had stumbled upon anti-vaccine content on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. He challenged them to remove 12 anti-vaxxers from the platforms, which he indicated account for almost 65% of vaccine misinformation. Doyle said, “you can take this content down. You can reduce the vision. You can fix this. But you chose not to.”  He further stated that the platforms have the means to police the platforms, but they are often choosing engagement and profits instead of safety and health.

In recent months, the tech companies, which were facing pressure to deal with foreign interference and disinformation ahead of the 2020 election, have been under increasing scrutiny. Some of the platforms implemented strategies to crack down election conspiracies, but this wasn’t sufficient to keep Former President Trump’s supporters from storming the Capitol.

Congress is now considering scrapping Section 230, which lets internet platforms moderate sites by not worrying about liability since they are not publishers.