Senators Express Frustration with Tech Companies

(1 Nov 2017) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus086691

Major social media companies are facing continued questions from two congressional committees Wednesday -- and at times struggling to defend themselves _ on why they haven't done more to combat Russian interference on their platforms.
In the day's first hearing, lawmakers on the Senate intelligence committee are pressing representatives from Facebook, Twitter and Google on why they didn't act more quickly and thoroughly as it became evident that Russians used their sites to try and influence the 2016 election. The top Democrat on the panel, Democrat Mark Warner, said his questions about the interference were "blown off" by the companies until this summer.
The hearing comes a day after the Senate Judiciary hearing questioned the companies. Wednesday afternoon, the House intelligence panel will hear from them. The hearing comes as the panels are investigating Russian meddling in the election and whether it was linked to President Donald Trump's campaign.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a member of both the Judiciary and intelligence panels, said the companies must do more, or Congress will.
"I must say I don't think you get it," Feinstein told the companies. "What we're talking about is a cataclysmic change. What we're talking about is the start of cyberwarfare ... We are not going to go away, gentlemen."
All three companies revealed new details about the interference this week, with Facebook saying Russia-linked ads reached as many as 126 million people and Twitter said it uncovered and shut down 2,752 accounts linked to a Russian agency, nearly 14 times as many as it handed over to congressional committees three weeks ago.

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