The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing: Twitter Transparency and Accountability
Record date · January 1, 2019
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on September 5, 2018, to examine Twitter's policies, transparency, and the platform's role in addressing foreign influence and online abuse. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified before the committee regarding the company's internal processes and efforts to combat platform misuse.
This hearing established the public record regarding how Twitter manages user speech, political influence campaigns, and safety, which informs ongoing federal discussions about the regulation of social media platforms.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Twitter, Inc.
The company was required to provide testimony and documentation regarding its internal moderation policies and platform security.
Social Media Users
Users are affected by the potential changes to platform moderation policies and transparency standards discussed during the hearing.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on September 5, 2018, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, provided testimony and submitted written responses to committee questions.
- The committee reviewed evidence regarding Russian troll activity on Twitter during the 2016 presidential election.
- The committee examined data regarding the suspension of over 1.2 million terrorism-related accounts since 2015.
Show all 7 facts
- The committee reviewed reports on the removal of accounts linked to Iranian and Russian political meddling.
- Amnesty International submitted a study titled '#toxictwitter: Violence and abuse against women online' for the record.
- The committee entered into the record various articles and statements regarding Twitter's moderation of political speech and Periscope's content safety issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Increased Scrutiny on Foreign Influence
The hearing highlights a transition in congressional focus toward the role of social media in foreign political meddling and terrorism prevention.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools