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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 1 February 2024

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate

hearing on child exploitation

Continued from Front and operate are dangerous
products,” Graham said.
“They’re responsible for many He told the executives their
of the dangers our children platforms have enriched lives
face online,” U.S. Senate Ma- but that it is time to deal with
jority Whip Dick Durbin, who “the dark side.”
chairs the committee, said in Beginning with Discord’s
opening remarks. “Their de- Jason Citron, the execu-
sign choices, their failures to tives touted existing safety
adequately invest in trust and tools on their platforms and
safety, their constant pursuit of the work they’ve done with
engagement and profit over nonprofits and law enforce-
basic safety have all put our ment to protect minors.
kids and grandkids at risk.” Snapchat had broken ranks
In a heated question and an- ahead of the hearing and
swer session with Mark Zuck- began backing a federal bill
erberg, Republican Missouri that would create a legal
Sen. Josh Hawley asked the liability for apps and social
Meta CEO if he has person- platforms who recommend
ally compensated any of the harmful content to minors.
victims and their families for Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiter-
what they have been through. ated the company’s support
“I don’t think so,” Zuckerberg on Wednesday and asked
replied. Todd and Mia Minor, both of Accokeek, Md., left, hold a photo of their son, Matthew Minor as they the industry to back the bill.
“There’s families of victims attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with the heads of social media platforms on Capitol TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said
here,” Hawley said. “Would Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, on child safety. The Minor's son, Matthew Minor, died TikTok is vigilant about enforc-
after a TikTok "choking challenge" in 2019.
you like to apologize to Associated Press ing its policy barring children
them?” under 13 from using the app.
Parents attending the hear- But time and time again, in curbing online harassment industry-leading tools” and CEO Linda Yaccarino said X,
ing rose and held up pictures children’s advocates and who recently testified before empower parents. formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater
of their children. Zuckerberg parents have stressed that Congress about child safety “To make money,” Hawley to children.
stood as well, turning away none of the companies are on Meta’s platforms. “Every cut in. South Carolina Sen. “We do not have a line of
from his microphone and the doing enough. parent I’ve met with a kid Lindsay Graham, the top business dedicated to chil-
senators to address them di- “Meta’s general approach under 13 is afraid of when Republican on the Judiciary dren,” Yaccarino said. She
rectly. is ‘trust us, we’ll do the right their kid is old enough to be panel, echoed Durbin’s senti- said the company will also
“I’m sorry for everything you thing’, but how can we trust in social media.” ments and said he’s prepared support Stop CSAM Act, a
have all been through. No Meta? The way they talk Hawley continued to press to work with Democrats to federal bill that make it easier
one should go through the about these issues feels like Zuckerberg, asking if he’d solve the issue. for victims of child exploita-
things that your families have they are trying to gaslight take personal responsibility “After years of working on this tion to sue tech companies.
suffered,” he said, adding that the world, said Arturo Béjar, for the harms his company has issue with you and others, I’ve Yet child health advocates
Meta continues to invest and a former engineering direc- caused. Zuckerberg stayed come to conclude the follow- say social media companies
work on “industry-wide efforts” tor at the social media gi- on message and repeated ing: social media companies have failed repeatedly to
to protect children. ant known for his expertise that Meta’s job is to “build as they’re currently designed protect minors.q

Top U.S. diplomat set to return to the Mideast

for 5th time since Gaza conflict began

State Department official fying, but also as fears grow and the emir of Qatar,
said Wednesday. of a regional conflict. whose country is the chief
National Security Coun- “These negotiations, our interlocutor with Hamas,
cil spokesman John Kirby negotiations, are very, very and he said: Blinken “will
and the State Department active,” Kirby said, noting be heading back over to
official said Blinken would talks held last weekend the region at the end of this
travel to the Mideast this between CIA Director Wil- week.”
weekend as part of the liam Burns, senior Israeli The State Department of-
Biden administration’s ef- and Egyptian intelligence ficial said Blinken would be
forts to prepare for post- officials and Qatar’s prime traveling to the Middle East

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conflict reconstruction and minister. “We believe that “in the coming days” but
conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at governance of Gaza, ramp the discussions have been could not give exact dates
the State Department, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in Washington. up humanitarian aid to Pal- productive. They’ve been or destinations because the
Associated Press estinian civilians, release moving in the right direc- trip was still being planned.
hostages held by Hamas tion.” On his previous visits, Blink-
By MATTHEW LEE East later this week on his and prevent the war from He also recalled a recent en has stopped in Israel,
AP Diplomatic Writer fifth urgent diplomatic mis- spreading. trip to the Mideast by na- the West Bank, Jordan,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sec- sion since I srael’s war with The trip comes as discus- tional security council offi- Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
retary of State Antony Blink- Hamas began in October, sions over a cease-fire and cial Brett McGurk, a call be- Bahrain, the United Arab
en will return to the Middle the White House and a hostage release are intensi- tween President Joe Biden Emirates, Turkey and Iraq.q