Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey are reportedly in talks to testify before Congress for the fourth time in the past year

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Washington DC on Oct. 23, 2019.

Andrew Harnik/AP

• Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey are in discussions to testify before Congress, Politico reported.
• What they'd be testifying about "is not yet clear," according to Politico.
• Congress has been been studying how social media firms have addressed violent posts and misinformation.
• Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey may testify at a congressional hearing that could be held as soon as March, Politico's Christiano Lima reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The two executives have reportedly been in discussions with members of the House of Representatives.

Zuckerberg and Dorsey may testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to Politico's report. Politico said the hearing's emphasis "is not yet clear," but did not specify whether Congress had not decided on a topic or if the publication's sources were not able to describe it. Other prominent tech executives, including Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's top lawyer, and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, may also testify at the hearing, with Gadde potentially taking Dorsey's place, Politico reported.

The committee reportedly has not yet decided on a date for the hearing.

Read more: Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Facebook staff 'we need to inflict pain' on Apple, in response to criticism over data collection practices

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been studying the way social media companies have addressed violent posts and COVID-19 misinformation following the January riot at the US Capitol.

Zuckerberg and Dorsey have testified before Congress three times in the past year, a period where lawmakers have placed increasing scrutiny on tech companies' business practices. The two executives have appeared at hearings about a law that protects tech firms from liability for content posted on their platforms, concerns from Republican lawmakers that social media platforms censor posts expressing conservative opinions, and questions about whether large tech companies are violating antitrust laws.

Facebook, Twitter, Google, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Read more: Facebook's Oversight Board members reportedly earn 6-figure salaries and only work 'about 15 hours a week'

Read the original article on Business Insider

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/2NpmgWi