*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.
Does Donald Trump know how search engines work? Not according to Mashable's Michael Nuñez, who said the president's remarks about Google suppressing content fail to take into account that it's an algorithm, not a person, that does the ranking.
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Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland is headed to Washington to continue trade negotiations with the U.S. On Monday, Mexico and the United States agreed to terms for a new trade deal.
Electronic Arts is canceling three qualifier events for its 'Madden NFL 19' tournament in the wake of Sunday's deadly shooting in Jacksonville, Florida. The company says it will conduct a review of safety measures to ensure the security of competitors and spectators.
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White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told Cheddar that the trade framework with Mexico announced Monday could be used "as an example" to get Canada to rejoin negotiations.
Markets are finally starting to understand President Trump's negotiating strategy, said John Petrides, managing director of Point View Wealth Management. A trade deal with Mexico sent stocks soaring to record highs Monday.
The controversial conservative pundit and author of "Resistance Is Futile" told Cheddar that the midterms will decide whether Trump is impeached. Regardless, the famous provocateur isn't ready to give her endorsement for 2020 just yet.
President Trump announced a framework on Monday for a new trade deal with Mexico and wants to dissolve the name NAFTA due to its "bad connotations." The framework does not extend to Canada at the moment, Trump said.
Philip Wegmann, reporter for the Washington Examiner, spoke with Cheddar about the late Sen. John McCain's legacy and how he'll be remembered among his colleagues in the Senate.
Cheddar looks back at the life and legacy of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at 81 following a year-long battle with brain cancer.
