Brian Fung | @[email protected]

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

3. Democrats’ line of questioning on the tech platforms’ algorithms and how the business model creates certain incentives — and the grudging acknowledgement of that by execs like Pichai — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

So far the biggest takeaways to me have been: 1. FB and GOOG being unable to unambiguously acknowledge their platforms may have contributed to the Capitol violence 2. Republicans’ new line of attack based on children’s mental health, which may prove significant strategically — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Dorsey: “We don’t have a censoring department." — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

RT @dmccabe: Lawmakers at this tech CEO hearing are talking a lot about the idea that the platforms actively amplify — rather than just hos… — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Zuck expanded on his Section 230 proposal. He divides it into three prongs: 1. More transparency reports 2. Requirements for “systems” dealing witth illegal content such as opioid stuff and child exploitation 3. A safe harbor for small platforms We’ll see where that goes — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Zuckerberg says he doesn’t really let his kids use Facebook products, with the exception of Messenger Kids, which his 5-year-old daughter uses sometimes to message her cousins. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Pallone gets Pichai to acknowledge that getting users to stay on the site is a priority of YouTube and its algorithms. Pichai says it’s one of many of the company’s priorities. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Zuckerberg saying “Congressman, are you asking me about YouTube?” is the “Senator, we run ads” of this hearing. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

@BrendanBordelon I think this answers that https://t.co/J3HPNUwiBi — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

The actual results IRL are often very different, of course, but I can see how Zuckerberg has talked himself into a place where he can say Facebook doesn’t allow misinfo in ads. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

To a layperson this seems obviously laughable. But Zuck immediately follows this by citing the fact-checker program, implying that Facebook believes that it prohibits misinfo in ads because fact-checkers keep misinfo in line. https://t.co/rUsNz0dKgm — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

RT @shannonpareil: Zuck asked about Sheryl Sandberg's now infamous comment that Jan 6 was largely planned off FB - he waffles a bit but ack… — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Only Dorsey said “yes,” but he qualified it by saying you also need to consider the “broader ecosystem. It’s not just about the technology platforms we use.” — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Bit late to this as I rewound to get the exact details: Doyle opened with a yes/no question about whether the platforms believe they’re responsible for spreading disinfo that led to the Capitol riots. Zuck and Pichai try to avoid giving a yes/no and get cut off. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Doyle says today’s witnesses can mute themselves to be advised by lawyers before answering. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Jack is reiterating many of his earlier calls for policies that don’t entrench dominant companies (*cough* Facebook *cough*) — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

(lol jack trying to preempt GOP lawmakers attacking him based on tweets by the ayatollah: “I don’t think that’s useful”) — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Zuckerberg further blames a "political and media environment that drives Americans apart,” without acknowledging Facebook’s position in that ecosystem. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Zuckerberg pins the Capitol riot on Trump, saying “we did our part ot secure the integrity of hte election. And then on Jan. 6, President Trump gave a speech … calling on people to fight." — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

IIRC Latta also made an appeal along children’s mental health lines. It seems this is a main argument Republican members are lobbing at Big Tech today. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

“Your platforms are my biggest fear as a parent,” McMorris Rodgers says. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is making it personal, saying how her fight against Big Tech happens every day in her own household with her children. “It’s a battle for their development, a battle for their mental health, and ultimately a battle for their safety." — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

House E&C Chair Frank Pallone: “Your business model itself has become the problem, and the time for self-regulation is over." — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Part of me wants these lawmakers to speak more slowly so I don’t have to rewind the stream to catch it all. The other part of me wants them to get through these canned statements ASAP so we can (maybe) get to talking policy. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Extremely same https://t.co/gkzyPY47hV — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

RT @lageneralista: A thousand times this. Guess who else has an obligation to be stewards for the information environment in democracies🤔..… — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Rep. Bob Latta is going after the tech platforms with more allegations of ideological censorship and calling for curtailing Section 230. — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

Subcommittee Chair Mike Doyle is ripping into the tech platforms, saying the companies could reduce vaccine misinformation but “you choose not to.” “Time after time you are picking engagement and profit over the health and safety of users." — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

The tech CEOs hearing is getting underway. Watch live here: https://t.co/QazAmq5WtK — PolitiTweet.org

Brian Fung | @[email protected] @b_fung

RT @leah_nylen: In a discussion #atspring21, @RepKenBuck says creating a new regulatory agency is a "non-starter" for Republicans as are ch… — PolitiTweet.org