*By Carlo Versano*
Google is "missing an opportunity" by not sending a top official to Capitol Hill next week to testify on election interference and censorship, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told Cheddar's J.D. Durkin on Wednesday.
Facebook and Twitter are both sending C-Suite executives ー COO Sheryl Sandberg and CEO Jack Dorsey, respectively ー to testify in front of both chambers on Sept. 5.
So far, Google has said it will only dispatch its general counsel, Kent Walker.
"We need policy makers, not simply their lawyers," Warner said.
The heads of the top social and web platforms will head to the Hill to answer questions about how they are combating misinformation campaigns from state actors like Russia and Iran ahead of the midterm elections. Additionally, they are expected to face pointed questions about censorship ー a topic that President Trump has been pushing, most recently on Wednesday afternoon when he told reporters, "I think they treat Republicans and conservatives very unfairly" and such handling "may not be legal."
That echoes the sentiment of several Trump tweets Tuesday which suggested that Google News technology suppressed conservative views. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the White House would look into the matter, but many questioned Trump's statements on their face.
"The president doesn't really understand how search algorithms work," Warner said, noting that content is ranked in searches as a result of computer calculations, not human action.
The last time officials from Facebook, Twitter, and Google testified together ー last November on the topic of Russian hacking ー the reaction from lawmakers was largely negative. Since then, each company has shown a more proactive approach to the policing of their platforms.
Warner said he hopes next week's hearings will be forward-looking. "We want to look at solution sets" for these complex problems, he said.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, June 29, 2019.
As immigration officials return unaccompanied minors to a controversial Border Patrol facility, Deputy Secretary of the HHS Eric Hargan tells Cheddar, "We are running out of money in our program, and we really need to get the money so that we can provide services for these children."
As the recent push to legalize recreational cannabis in the Empire State failed in the legislature, state Sen. Diane Savino is putting forward the approach of expanding New York's medical marijuana program in order to further normalize the issue.
There are 38 openly gay mayors across the country, according to the Victory Fund, an advocacy group working to elect LGBTQ politicians. Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, was elected in April with an overwhelming 72 percent of votes, becoming the city's first openly gay mayor.
Illinois is now the 11th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the legalization bill into law on Tuesday, just a few weeks after the proposal was passed by the state legislature.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Tuesday, June 25, 2019.
Green Growth Brands has added another retail veteran to its team. A former executive at Victoria’s Secret, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein, Jann Parish joins the CBD-infused beauty and skincare company as chief marketing officer, as it seeks to tap into the cultural movement surrounding cannabis and hemp.
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is hoping to break through on the Democratic Primary debate stage Wednesday night by emphasizing his Ohio working class bona fides.
Companies from every sector of the economy are celebrating Pride this month with rainbow logos, LGBTQ-themed marketing campaigns, and new product launches. Yet branding experts note that simply acknowledging Pride in June can undermine a corporate brand as well as undercut the fundamental message of Pride, which is rooted in human rights and celebrating a community that has long been discriminated against.
June is the first Pride month for the 116th Congress, which includes 10 openly gay politicians — the most in the nation’s history. From hometown parades to policy speeches, members of Congress are marking the celebratory month and using the occasion to push for equality legislation.
