What Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn took away from the Meta whistleblower’s testimony
Nov 8, 2023
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Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn discuss the revelations from the Meta whistleblower's testimony, highlighting ignored safety recommendations and harm caused by harmful content. They emphasize the need for accountability and transparency in social media platforms and compare big tech to big tobacco, calling for reform. They address concerns about the impact of the Kids Online Safety Act on LGBTQ youth and explain its purpose. They discuss the bipartisan support for the legislation in safeguarding children without imposing content censorship.
The Meta whistleblower's testimony highlighted Facebook's negligence and concealment of harmful content, emphasizing the need for accountability and tools to protect children.
Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn advocate for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act to hold big tech companies accountable and prioritize safety over profits.
Deep dives
Concerns about content placement on Facebook and Instagram highlighted in whistleblower testimony
The recent whistleblower testimony from Arturo Behar has shed renewed focus on concerns about how content is placed on Facebook and Instagram. Lawmakers, such as Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marcia Blackburn, see this testimony as an opportunity to push for legislation, specifically the Kids Online Safety Act. However, this bill faces challenges as it is currently stuck in the Senate with no companion legislation in the House. Congress also has a busy agenda, including pending government shutdown, AI regulation, and a defense bill.
Neglect and ignorance enabled the harmful effects of social media
The testimony of the whistleblower, Arturo Behar, highlights how Facebook neglected and ignored recommendations made by a safety expert engineer who was specifically hired to make the platform safer. Facebook concealed information about the harms done by the platform and rolled back some protections, allowing harmful content to proliferate. The whistleblower's testimony vividly conveyed these harms and emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and tools to protect kids and parents from harmful algorithms.
Bipartisan support for the Kids Online Safety Act
Both Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn are committed to passing the Kids Online Safety Act, which has gained bipartisan support in the Senate. They call for holding big tech companies accountable for the harm they cause, increasing transparency, and providing tools for children and parents to disconnect from harmful algorithms. The Senators highlight the need for product design that prioritizes safety and compare the influence of big tech to that of big tobacco, emphasizing that the time has come for action and reform to protect children.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) face an uphill battle to get their Kids Online Safety Act to the president’s desk. On POLITICO Tech, the lawmakers discuss Tuesday’s testimony from the Meta whistleblower and whether his revelations will put fresh momentum behind their legislation.