House Committee Chair Urges Social Media Briefing on Hamas Content Moderation

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is requesting a briefing from major social media companies on their content moderation policies concerning the dissemination of “illegal content” posted by Hamas amid the recent deadly terror attacks in Israel. In light of these events, McMorris Rodgers sent requests to government affairs representatives for Alphabet, Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, urging them to brief committee staff by October 20.

McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, emphasized the need for transparency in the enforcement of content moderation policies and community standards in the context of the ongoing conflict in Israel. She stated, “Big Tech must take its responsibility seriously to expose the world to the pure evil of Hamas terrorists and to ensure their platforms do not become breeding grounds for more terrorist activity.”

The Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee further stressed the urgency of the matter, calling for full transparency from these tech companies. She expressed her ongoing prayers for peace, protection, and justice in Israel.

The committee expects that representatives from the trust and safety or content moderation teams of these companies will participate in the requested briefings.

In the backdrop of this initiative is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which specifies that “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” This section has played a pivotal role in shielding today’s social media giants, including Internet service providers and platforms like Google, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, from liability for content posted on their platforms by third parties in most cases.

The recent wave of attacks in Israel, orchestrated by Hamas, has led to a significant escalation in tensions and violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is “at war” in response to the deadly attacks, vowing that the attackers would face an “unprecedented price.”

As the conflict continues, the death toll rises, with more than 1,300 Israelis killed and at least 27 Americans among the victims. Additionally, a number of Americans are reportedly being held hostage by Hamas, according to U.S. officials.

This call for a briefing underscores the growing scrutiny of social media companies and their role in moderating content related to international conflicts and acts of terrorism. It reflects the broader discussion on the responsibilities and regulations governing these tech giants in today’s digital landscape.