United States: social media bosses interviewed in the Senate, a painful moment for Mark Zuckerberg

The American Congress experienced a significant moment on January 31. The bosses of the main social networks were heard by a Senate committee on the sometimes dramatic consequences for young people of content published on their platforms. And it didn't go very well for the most famous of them.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 31, 2024. © Nathan Howard/Reuters

By: RFI Follow

Advertisement

Read more

More often than not, being a high-profile person has mostly advantages, but perhaps less so when it comes to answering questions from a U.S. Senate committee. The bosses of Discord, X, SnapChat and TikTok are here. But the star of social media stars, the undisputed number 1, is Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Meta. When he is questioned by the Republican senator from South Carolina, Lindsay Graham, he quickly understands that he is going to have a bad day. “ 

Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know this is not your intention in the first place, but you have blood on your hands. You have a product that kills people

 ,” said the American senator.

"

I'm sorry

"

In the room, families of adolescents who have been victims of online harassment, blackmail or sexual exploitation applaud and hold up portraits of their children who have committed suicide. Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley asks the head of Facebook and Instagram if he wants to apologize. Mark Zuckerberg turns to the audience and does so. “

I'm sorry for everything you've been through, for the hardships your families have endured. This is why we invest so much. And we will continue our efforts, the most important in the industry, to ensure that no one has to go through the same suffering as your families

 ,” said the Facebook co-founder. 

The solution suggested by several senators is that social media finally be responsible for the content they host. And in the meantime, for prosecution to be possible, there is public humiliation.

Read alsoProtection of minors: the European Union opens an investigation targeting Meta and Snap

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your inbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Share :

Continue reading on the same themes:

  • UNITED STATES

  • Social networks

  • Internet

  • Company

  • Mark Zuckerberg