Dear Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Pichai, Mr. Bezos, and Mr. Zuckerberg.
I’m writing to express my deep concern that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is exploiting the openness of each of your companies’ platforms, including advertising, to carry out a disinformation campaign concerning their role in the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Their efforts are gravely threatening global public health and international cooperation to address this crisis. I therefore urge you to ban all CCP media outlets and their officials who are disseminating disinformation about COVID-19 from your advertising and social media platforms immediately. It is time to deplatform the CCP.
Amid a global crisis started by the CCP’s own mismanagement, their regime is using Twitter, Google, Facebook, and other American social media platforms in an attempt to whitewash what we all know to be true about the origins of this pandemic-that it started in Wuhan, China. CCP officials and media outlets are spreading the baseless lie that the U.S. military brought COVID-19 to Wuhan. Furthermore, numerous CCP officials and outlets continue to say that the CCP’s response bought the world time, when it was their inaction that cost the world lives.
As a country we cannot allow this strategic adversary to highjack the websites and apps of U.S. companies to flood users in the United States and around the world with propaganda and disinformation. At this critical juncture, U.S. policymakers and our private sector must stand united against a regime that is trying to confuse the truth and divide its enemies.
I and many others are aware of CCP tactics to intimidate and use all the People’s Republic of China’s resources to strongarm individual private companies. This treatment is unfair but reveals the true nature of this corrupt and morally bankrupt regime. It is disappointing that CCP officials can block your platforms access in China, yet can register verified accounts and spread lies, which apparently do not violate some company’s terms of service.
It is clear that the actions taken by your companies to limit the spread of disinformation on your platforms have been insufficient. The CCP’s orchestrated attempts to spread lies about COVID-19 reveals the need for a more robust and concerted response by your companies to safeguard your users from this current ongoing campaign and the many others of CCP disinformation. My staff welcomes the opportunity to work with your teams to find long-term solutions that address this threat.
Sincerely,
Michael McCaul
Lead Republican
House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
