Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised to families who say their children had been harmed by social media, during a fiery hearing in the US Senate.
During a nearly four-hour hearing, tech titans, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and others, faced intense questioning from bipartisan senators. The focus was primarily on child protection online, with lawmakers seeking insights into what measures these companies are taking to safeguard children using their platforms.
The unusual opportunity for U.S. senators to directly question tech leaders prompted Zuckerberg and TikTok’s Chew to voluntarily testify. However, heads of Snap, X (formerly Twitter), and messaging platform Discord initially declined, receiving government-issued subpoenas.
Seated behind the tech executives were families who shared heartbreaking stories of their children self-harming or taking their lives due to social media content. Their emotions were palpable throughout the hearing, with audible reactions to CEO entrances and applause when lawmakers asked tough questions.
While the main theme revolved around protecting children from online sexual exploitation, senators seized the opportunity to address a spectrum of concerns with the powerful executives under oath.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faced scrutiny as Senator Tom Cotton questioned CEO Shou Zi Chew about potential data sharing with the Chinese government. Chew, a Singaporean, clarified his background and denied any association with the Chinese Communist Party. Acknowledging the distressing nature of the discussed issues, Chew revealed that his own children don’t use TikTok due to age restrictions in Singapore.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta, faced the most scrutiny, marking his eighth appearance before Congress. In one notable exchange, Senator Ted Cruz questioned Zuckerberg about an Instagram prompt warning users about potential child sexual abuse material. Cruz bluntly asked, “Mr. Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking?” Zuckerberg explained the rationale, stating it’s sometimes helpful to guide users toward something beneficial rather than outright blocking, promising to investigate further.
The hearing took a dramatic turn as Senator Lindsey Graham accused the tech companies, including Zuckerberg’s Meta, of having “blood on their hands” for failing to protect children from escalating threats of sexual predation on their platforms. Parents held pictures of their children harmed by social media, emphasizing the real-world impact.
As lawmakers emphasized the urgency for legislative action, Senator Dick Durbin highlighted the alarming growth in financial “sextortion” targeting minors. The hearing included a video where children shared their victimization experiences on social media, providing a poignant backdrop to the discussions.
In a tense moment, the committee presented internal emails displaying Zuckerberg rejecting a request for additional engineers to work on safety improvements at Meta.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino voiced support for the STOP CSAM Act, legislation seeking to hold tech companies accountable for child sexual abuse material. Yaccarino emphasized X’s backing for the bill, aiming to allow victims to sue tech platforms and app stores.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew disclosed that over 170 million Americans use TikTok monthly, pledging to allocate over $2 billion for trust and safety efforts. However, under questioning, Chew didn’t disclose the figure’s proportion to the company’s overall revenue.
The hearing also marked X’s, previously Twitter, recent controversies, including blocking searches for Taylor Swift after fake explicit images circulated on the platform. Elon Musk’s influence on X’s moderation policies came under scrutiny.
The session demonstrated the increasing pressure on tech companies to address child safety concerns. Despite the heightened focus on this critical issue, legislative initiatives like the STOP CSAM Act are yet to become law.
In this significant hearing, the tech executives navigated a complex landscape of inquiries, acknowledging challenges while defending their platforms’ role in society. The emotional backdrop provided by affected families underscored the gravity of the issues at hand, urging both tech companies and legislators to take meaningful actions to protect children online.
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