Top Democratic lawmakers are expected to tear into social media companies’ efforts to combat online disinformation at a George Washington University virtual forum today focused in part on misleading Covid-19 news.
The lineup includes a series of heavy hitters: Pelosi (D-Calif.), who recently blasted tech companies’ “complete failure to fight the spread of disinformation”; Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), whose House subcommittee is holding a June hearing on her and other lawmakers’ allegations that “social media platforms have failed to take sufficient steps to address disinformation”; and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who has skewered platforms’ handling of President Donald Trump’s posts. The event will also feature “real people who have been directly harmed” from the industry’s handling of misinformation, GW said.
Also on the list: House Judiciary antitrust Chairman David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who’s already having a busy week.