Facebook, Google and Twitter to Testify In Russian Probe

Facebook, Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Twitter’s respective executives have been asked to testify to the U.S. Congress in coming weeks as lawmakers probe Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

Executives from all three companies were asked to appear before the Senate committee Nov. 1, while the House panel requested them next month.

The leaders of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said the panel would hold an open hearing next month with representatives from unnamed technology companies in an effort to “better understand how Russia used online tools and platforms to sow discord in and influence our election.”

Representatives for Facebook and Google confirmed they had received invitations from the Senate committee but did not say whether the companies would attend. Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Facebook has recently disclosed that Russians seemed to have bought about $100,000 in election-related ads last year. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate committee, said Wednesday the panel still hasn’t received enough details from Facebook on about 3,000 of those ads.

"I gave them credit last week when they came forward, but it’s really important they put time, energy and resources into this in a meaningful way," Warner said Wednesday. "The sooner they get us the information, the sooner we get a full accounting."

The requests are the latest move by congressional investigators to gain information from internet companies as they probe the extent of Moscow’s alleged efforts to mess up last year’s U.S. election. Lawmakers in both parties have grown increasingly concerned that social networks may have played a key role in Russia’s influence operation.

Other internet firms besides Facebook are also facing rising scrutiny over how Russia may have leveraged their platforms. Twitter is expected to privately brief the Senate panel on Thursday. Meanwhile, Google has said it was not used in the alleged Russian campaign to steer the US election. 

Want to become an investor/trader in the stock market? Fill yourself in on marketing news by subscribing to HQBroker. We encourage traders to know more about the latest information about forex, stock markets, commodities, and economies.