US: Facebook, Google, Twitter execs to testify at Russia hearings

Executives from Facebook, Google, and Twitter have been asked to testify to the United States Congress as lawmakers continue to investigate Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election, committee sources have said on Wednesday, September 27.

The Senate intelligence committee asked that the executives testify at a public hearing on November 1, 2017.

“In the coming month, we will hold an open hearing with representatives from tech companies in order to better understand how Russia used online tools and platforms to sow discord in and influence our election,” the committee’s Democrat representative Adam Schiff and Republican representative Mike Conaway said.

While the representatives did not specify which technology companies would be testifying, Facebook and Google confirmed they had received invitations from the Senate committee.

Early Wednesday, Trump posted a tweet accusing Facebook of always being “anti-Trump”, adding that television networks and publications such as The New York Times and the Washington Post, have also been anti-Trump.

“But the people were Pro-Trump! Virtually no President has accomplished what we have accomplished in the first 9 months-and economy roaring,” he added.

Facebook founder and frontman Mark Zuckerberg subsequently responded to Trump’s tweets in the form of a Facebook post, saying both Trump and liberals are accusing the social media giant of influencing election results.

“Both sides are upset about ideas and content they don’t like. That’s what running a platform for all ideas looks like,” Zuckerberg said in the post.

Facebook last week said it will turn over to the US Congress Russian-linked ads that may have been intended to sway the 2016 US election.

Earlier this week, Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it will block access to Facebook next year if the social media giant does not comply with a law requiring websites to store personal data of Russian citizens on Russian servers.

Full Content: The Guardian

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