Overview
- At a Senate Commerce hearing on Oct. 29, Chair Ted Cruz pressed Google and Meta over alleged White House pressure to shape content decisions during the pandemic and after the 2020 election.
- Google’s Markham Erickson and Meta’s Neil Potts said they would back legislation that increases transparency around government contacts and creates a cause of action to sue the government, contingent on the bill’s text.
- Potts told senators that Meta felt pressure from the Biden administration on COVID‑19 content and said the company regrets not speaking out more forcefully, while maintaining that final moderation choices were Meta’s.
- Erickson testified that Google makes independent policy calls and often declined administration requests to remove COVID‑19 information, emphasizing the company’s trust and safety review process.
- Erickson confirmed a $24.5 million YouTube settlement with President Trump over his post–Jan. 6 suspension, as Democrats pushed for oversight of FCC Chair Brendan Carr in highlighting alleged Trump‑era jawboning.