*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.
Daniel Lippman, co-author of the Politico Playbook, said that the Democrats have done a good job of making Brett Kavanaugh look extreme through a day-and-a-half of hearings. But whether it will matter when it comes to the confirmation vote is another matter entirely.
Scooby Axson, a writer and producer for Sports Illustrated and an Army veteran, said that Pres. Trump is using Nike's Colin Kaepernick ad to stoke anger in his base.
Wednesday is a busy day on Capitol Hill. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey are testifying before the Senate as questions grow over foreign influence and fake news. Plus, Brett Kavanaugh returns to Capitol Hill to face questions from lawmakers in day two of his confirmation hearings. And we sit down with Tiffany Pham, CEO and founder of the website Mogul, to discuss how women can succeed in business.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know.
Judge Brett Kavanaugh returned to Capitol Hill for his second day of confirmation hearings Wednesday. Judd Legum, editor-in-chief of popular.info, has some suggestions for what the Democrats need to ask him.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg are testifying in front of the Senate. Dana Wollman, acting Editor-in-Chief of Engadget, tells Cheddar what these executives have to say to satisfy both lawmakers and investors.
Brand consultant Allen Adamson said the companies that don't speak up in the age of social media, are doomed to become irrelevant. That's the bet Nike is making with its new campaign.
Nike's decision to tap Colin Kaepernick as the new face of the 'Just Do It' campaign is inspiring some and offending others. Mashable's Marcus Gilmer joins Cheddar to discuss how the new deal came together.
Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing got off to a raucous start Tuesday, as protesters interrupted the proceedings, Democrats called for an adjournment, and Sen. Cornyn of Texas said he'd never before seen a hearing "led by mob rule."
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey will testify before the Senate on Wednesday. Tony Romm, technology reporter at The Washington Post, explains what to expect and weighs in on what the absence of a Google executive could mean. Meanwhile, President Trump's Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh faces lawmakers Tuesday as his confirmation hearings begin. And Samsung is looking to unveil a foldable phone by the end of this year.
