Washington, D.C.-House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Communications and Technology Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH) released the following statement regarding the upcoming committee hearing on Big Tech accountability.
“A conversation about reforming Section 230 is long overdue, and we look forward to having that discussion this week. Big Tech continues to prioritize the censorship of speech that does not fit the liberal orthodoxy when they should be focused on encouraging robust discussion and removing illegal content. Energy and Commerce Republicans have been running a process since day one of this Congress to hold Big Tech accountable, which has been guided by our Big Tech Accountability Platform. We look forward to discussing our legislative proposals which will help ensure that free speech is preserved on these platforms."
Timeline of Energy and Commerce Republican Efforts to Rein in Big Tech
January 2021-Leader Rodgers launches the Big Tech Accountability Platform which lays out her aggressive agenda and priorities to hold Big Tech accountable.
February 2021-Leader Rodgers and Republican Subcommittee Leaders Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) urge Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) to hold a hearing with the Big Tech CEOs to address their increasingly destructive actions.
March 2021-Committee Republicans put out a call to action from the public on their concerns about and trust of Big Tech. The public overwhelmingly confirmed they do not trust Big Tech and they want more transparency on how Big Tech runs their platforms.
March 2021-In a joint subcommittee hearing with the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, Republican committee members call out Big Tech CEOs for censoring Americans, failing to promote free speech, and relying on business models that harm children.
April 2021-Republican committee staff circulate a memo outlining several legislative concepts to drive future policies addressing Big Tech, including Section 230, protecting children online, and transparency requirements for content moderation. Since day one of this Congress, Republicans have worked with stakeholders and interested parties to ensure a considerate, inclusive, and transparent process as we develop these legislative solutions.
June 2021-Leader Rodgers articulates the third pillar of her Big Tech Accountability Platform, which addresses the relationship Big Tech has with China, in particularly its access to Americans’ personal information.
July 2021-E&C Committee Republicans unveil a comprehensive package of solutions to hold Big Tech accountable, including Leader Rodgers’ Section 230 reform bill with Judiciary Committee Republican Leader Jim Jordan (R-OH).
