House Judiciary Committee Plans Social Media Policing Hearing

The House Judiciary Committee scheduled a 10 a.m. hearing Thursday in 2141 Rayburn to discuss social media filtering and policing practices, following Republican concerns platforms like Facebook censor conservative content (see 1804120058). “Technology can be used to suppress a particular viewpoint and manipulate public opinion,” Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said. “I look forward to hearing from a wide variety of experts.” The committee invited Facebook, Google and Twitter to testify. The companies didn’t comment Friday. House Communications Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who prodded Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the issue, is scheduled to appear. Diamond and Silk -- as Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, a pair of conservative social media personalities at the center of the controversy, are known -- are witnesses, with Electronic Frontier Foundation Legal Director Corynne McSherry and News Media Alliance CEO David Chavern. The hearing will focus on content moderation metrics, filtering decision-making and examples of censorship, said the committee.