Tech CEOs Unify Democrats and Republicans Behind Call to Regulate Their Companies

By John D. McKinnon

Thursday's hearing showed that regulating social-media platforms has emerged as a surprisingly bipartisan issue in the current Congress. That's a big change from the past.

"This panel has done something truly rare in Washington these days -- it's united Democrats and Republicans," Rep. Angie Craig (D., Minn.) told the executives toward the end of the hearing, which ran more than five hours. "Your industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself."

Republicans and Democrats were particularly unified on the need to regulate how children are treated online.

Democrats were also focused on reducing the incentives that the platforms have for promoting attention-grabbing content including disinformation and misinformation, and Republicans also raised similar concerns about addiction and related issues.

Both sides said reforming Section 230, a federal law that gives social-media platforms sweeping legal protections, has become a top priority.

Still, the hearing underscored again some of the difficulties that will make passing major legislation a difficult task. Even if political obstacles are diminishing, practical and legal hurdles remain.

"I hope you can take away from this hearing how serious we are on both sides of the aisle," said Rep. Mike Doyle (D., Pa.), the communications and technology subcommittee chairman.

This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2021 18:18 ET (22:18 GMT)

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