Bilirakis and Curtis Leading the Charge to Protect Kids, Hold Big Tech Accountable

Big Tech is falling short when it comes to protecting Americans, especially children. The Communications Decency Act was meant to protect our society, specifically our kids. However, Big Tech has been picking and choosing which parts of the law to follow, which is dangerous and inappropriate. Facebook, for example, is completely ignoring the fact that an estimated half of American children under the age of 13 are using its platform which is a clear violation of the social media giant's terms of use. In response to this dereliction, two leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Representatives Gus Bilirakis and John Curtis, are demanding answers from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The lawmakers write, "The powerful influence your platforms have warrant decisive action that protects against inappropriate content reaching our most impressionable populations, and in particular, children who do not yet have the capacity to understand this content without parental guidance. Even more concerning is data that shows almost the same percentage of surveyed children under thirteen reported being exposed to harmful content on your sites. We acknowledge the challenging task of policing your site for underage or fake accounts, but increased attention must be placed on ensuring underage children are not using these sites and exposed to inappropriate content." Bilirakis and Curtis followed up by seeking critical information from Zuckerberg about the steps his company is taking to address these concerns and interventions steps being explored by Congress. To view the letter in its entirety, click here.

"Make no mistake about it, Big Tech has been given far too much leeway when it comes to self-regulating when it comes to meeting Americans' expectations of being good stewards of the public trust. They have proven themselves incapable or unwilling to act appropriately, especially when it comes to protecting children, and it is obvious that Congressional action is necessary," said Congressman Bilirakis. "We will hold Big Tech accountable for turning a blind eye and will not stop until our children are better protected. We can and must do better!"