The Senate Judiciary Committee questioned several social media CEOs about online child safety Wednesday, raising concerns about alleged shortfalls. The CEOs assured lawmakers that they are committed to keeping children safe online and have put measures in place to do so.
But the lawmakers grilled them about whether they support specific bills addressing online safety, noting they may be the reason such legislation has languished.
“It’s been 28 years since the internet. We haven’t passed any of these bills,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. “The reason they haven’t passed is because of the power of your companies, so let’s be really, really clear about that. What you say matters. Your words matter.”
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. also raised concerns about layoffs last year that hit employees in the social media companies’ trust-and-safety programs.
