So much this. https://t.co/xyWcP8zqg1
— Mickey White (@BiasedGirl) May 10, 2016
So, you know how Facebook’s been busted for allegedly suppressing conservative content? Well, there’s only one way to fix it: Get the government involved!
JUST IN: Senator wants Facebook to answer for bias charges https://t.co/TD7XUVKA63 pic.twitter.com/ydQIbb7TLe
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 10, 2016
More from the Washington Examiner:
“If Facebook presents its Trending Topics section as the result of a neutral, objective algorithm, but it is in fact subjective and filtered to support or suppress particular political viewpoints, Facebook’s assertion that it maintains a ‘platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum’ misleads the public,” Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Thune, R-S.D., wrote in a Tuesday letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
…
“Facebook must answer these serious allegations and hold those responsible to account if there has been political bias in the dissemination of trending news,” Thune said in a statement accompanying the letter. “Any attempt by a neutral and inclusive social media platform to censor or manipulate political discussion is an abuse of trust and inconsistent with the values of an open Internet.”
Thune, a senior member of GOP leadership, asked Zuckerberg to produce the “guidelines” and explain when they were developed, when they have been changed, and how the company tracks compliance with the guidelines. And he also wants to his team talk to the putative whistleblowers.
Because the government has nothing better to do than get involved in Facebook controversies?
Dude.
No, it isn't the Senate's job to look into the Facebook "scandal"
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/730082320607285252
The Senate’s commerce and science committee needs to stay the hell away from Facebook, which is a private company. https://t.co/JHn78PTJWm
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 10, 2016
This is a ridiculous move by Thune. However angry ppl may be at Facebook, it is NOT an issue for gov https://t.co/ulbK5665mD
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/4manReports/status/730084173243813888
FB is awful and may be manipulating public opinion, but I don't see how a government investigation is appropriate. https://t.co/GNfqsXXufP
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) May 10, 2016
@CNNMoney Isn't Facebook a private company. Why doesn't the Senate do their real job.
— Marie (@lawyer822) May 10, 2016
Two things:
1) Facebook is private company so why does Senate have a say?
2) Isn't there bigger issues to deal with https://t.co/cLqrdvVcJl— Jon (@pronkville08) May 10, 2016
Facebook has every right to use-or abuse-its own platform. The Senate has no authority to investigate them.
The markets decide their fate
— Bob Owens (@bob_owens) May 10, 2016
Senate has no place investigating how a private company operates.
Facebook is bad. Let users decide if they care. https://t.co/lc1IhZ5XQA
— Adam (@gpia7r) May 10, 2016
@mkhammer I agree. That's kind of scary, actually.
— Nick Pierce (@npierce84) May 10, 2016
Thune and his fellow busybodies are evidently doing their damnedest to destroy whatever shred of legitimacy the GOP has left.
Me when I found out the Senate was checking into Facebook pic.twitter.com/L5q8BXE7Bk
— Shoshana Weissmann, Sloth Committee Chair ? (@senatorshoshana) May 10, 2016
Thought #GOP opposed gov meddling in business? @SenJohnThune seems to love it (when it suits his agenda, I guess)https://t.co/e6uDITQJUI
— Ari Cohn (@AriCohn) May 10, 2016
Senate meddling in this is infinitely more egregious than Facebook's intentional/unintentional censoring. https://t.co/5vNX9tMAPy
— COLLECT ROCKS, PLANT FLAG (@deanriehm) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/ellenpeskin/status/730085674745999361
@philipaklein @amandacarpenter makes conservatives look so thin-skinned and desperate
— Jason Whitacre (@jwhit01) May 10, 2016
"We are the party of freedom. Now let's force Facebook to publish what we want them to publish."
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) May 10, 2016
Ugh.
Parting flashbacks:
https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/730094204068745217
Senator Thune on the Fairness doctrine and congressional meddling with the internet, from 2009: pic.twitter.com/TyDOuAtgqB
— John Sexton (@verumserum) May 10, 2016
So much for that.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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