U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that following his request urging Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein to investigate allegations of election interference against social media giants Twitter and Facebook, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be issuing subpoenas to the two tech giants. Daines’ request followed recent reports of Twitter and Facebook limiting access to a news story dealing with former Vice President Joe Biden’s son and the suspension of a Trump campaign account.
“I’m glad the Senate Judiciary Committee listened to my direct request and will investigate Twitter and Facebook following allegations of them interfering in the upcoming election and suppressing Trump’s campaign,” Daines said. “Social media platforms must be held to the same standard as any other organization and those involved must be held accountable if illegal activity occurred.”
In recent weeks, political candidates and news sources have seen content and stories removed from social media websites based on loose and shifting guidelines leading to allegations of interference and coordination between major social media companies and political parties.
To read the letter Daines sent to Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein, click HERE.
Background:
On Tuesday, Daines urged Senate Judiciary Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein to investigate the actions taken by social media corporations limiting or removing content of political candidates while either not following industry standards, failing to follow their own rules, or outright changing their rules to justify previous actions taken against candidates.