Twitter, Facebook to Defend Progress Made Against Russians on Hill; Pai Continues Scrutiny

Facebook and Twitter will use Wednesday’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing (see 1808300043) to highlight progress made combating Russian influence and other perceived bad actors. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is to testify alongside Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who also will appear by himself at a House Commerce Committee afternoon hearing (see 1808290054). Senate Intelligence leadership, who invited Alphabet CEO Larry Page, declined subsidiary Google’s offer to send Senior Vice President-Global Affairs Kent Walker. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also continued his scrutiny against such platforms.

Dorsey in prepared remarks to the House Commerce Committee echoed language frequently used on Capitol Hill, calling Twitter a “global town square” that must support free and open discussion. Twitter’s health is measured by public discourse on the platform, and abuse and malicious automation from “troll armies” brings the platform down, he said. To address the latter, the platform is aiming to earn more trust from users, he said. Efforts include working with third parties to measure the health of conversation on Twitter. Dorsey cited a need for collaboration among officials, government, industry and outside experts: “There are threats that we cannot understand and address alone.”

In prepared testimony provided by Facebook, Sandberg said the platform is in an “arms race” with Russia. She cited comments from Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., who said “nothing less than the integrity of our democratic institutions, processes and ideals is at stake.” She conceded the platform was “too slow” in reacting to Russian influence but said it's doubling security and safety staff to more than 20,000. Sandberg is expected to discuss accountability and investment in the long term; takedown strategy; and like Dorsey, the need for collaboration among stakeholders. Sandberg also highlighted ad transparency changes stemming from ranking member Mark Warner, D-Va., and his Honest Ads Act (see 1806120032).

​​​​Pai blogged Tuesday that he hopes to learn from Silicon Valley’s “tech giants” about transparency, privacy and online expression. He cited evidence of political bias on Twitter and suggested the platforms provide more insight into content decisions. The FCC levies strict transparency requirements for broadband providers, but there's “virtually no insight into similar business practices by tech giants,” Pai said. “Do steps need to be taken to ensure that consumers receive more information about how these companies operate?” He cited alleged censorship of Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a critic of platform bias. “Are these tech giants running impartial digital platforms over which they don’t exercise editorial judgment when it comes to content?” he asked.

Pai asked if consumers should have more control over data, citing recent allegations that Facebook shared personal data with foreign companies considered national security threats (see 1807020038). He cautioned against regulators treating platforms like a “water company.” He conceded platforms are companies and so have no editorial obligations but said new transparency guidelines deserve serious consideration.

Digital Citizens Alliance Executive Director Tom Galvin said Google isn't obligated to appear, but it’s making a “grave mistake” by not sending a top executive. “It tells me they think Congress doesn’t have any authority over them,” he said. He urged Facebook to offer exact details on its business model, since the handling of data is at the heart of all complaints from Congress, the FTC and consumer groups. Facebook’s numerous apology tours show its business model compels bad decision-making, Galvin said. Digital Citizens has an advisory board with members from the AFL-CIO and the Association for Competitive Technology.

Common Cause Legislative Affairs Director Aaron Scherb said the public deserves answers from the “social media giants” about what they’re doing about foreign influence. He argued their progress shows they're reacting to public pressure from users and lawmakers, not getting ahead of the issue.

Discussing Russia, Dorsey cited statistics from the 2016 election. Twitter identified 50,258 automated, Russia-linked accounts tweeting election-related content, which accounted for less than two one-hundredths of a percent (0.016) of total accounts at the time. The company remains “vigilant about identifying and eliminating abuse on the platform perpetrated by hostile foreign actors,” he said.

The House hearing, titled “Transparency and Accountability,” figures to focus on allegations of platform bias. Dorsey tried to dispel Republican claims that Twitter favors liberal content, which he said wouldn’t make economic sense: “Twitter does not use political ideology to make any decisions, whether related to ranking content on our service or how we enforce our rules. … We do not shadowban anyone based on political ideology.”

The House Commerce Committee previously held a hearing on platform censorship allegations (see 1807170043). Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., tweeted that Wednesday’s hearing will address “serious concerns about how Twitter moderates its platform.” Americans deserve answers on how social media content is policed, he said.

National Religious Broadcasters CEO Jerry Johnson said platform bias against conservatives is getting worse. Dorsey "faces a seminal moment at this hearing to acknowledge this problem and tell the American people what he will do to fix it at his company,” he said.