Dems ask Facebook, Google and Twitter for coronavirus disinformation reports

published 10 July 2020

Democrat members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have formally requested Twitter, Facebook and Google deliver monthly reports on coronavirus disinformation on their respective platforms, according to The Hill.

It also requested a briefing on how each platform is managing this disinformation.

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The group of Democratic representatives, which includes Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and subcommittee leaders Representatives Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill), requested the companies deliver their respective briefings by July 22.

The group believes it’s necessary to educate those who may use the fake information to make key health decisions, like whether to wear a mask or not.

This request comes on the heels of the European Union’s similar request to the same three tech companies in June. The companies agreed to provide this data and insight into how they’re fighting fake COVID-19 news and information, according to The Verge.

In the request, the committee members wrote: “Given the Committee’s jurisdiction over consumer protection and its ongoing oversight efforts around COVID-19 disinformation, we request that your company provide the Committee with monthly reports similar in scope to what you are providing the European Commission regarding your COVID-19 disinformation efforts as they relate to United States users of your platform.”

None of the three companies have officially or unofficially responded to the request, but we expect them to comply.

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