Sen Mark Warner: Tech Millionaire Who Became Tech’s Critic in Congress

This week, Sen Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, will push for new answers. Executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter are set to testify at congressional hearings on Oct 31 and Nov 1 about the election and the power of their platforms Lawmakers are increasingly taking a critical tone with Silicon Valley, with Sen Warner among the harshest. He has already pushed a bill requiring the companies to disclose who paid for digital political ads, the biggest legislative effort so far to regulate the companies. Sen Warner’s position is a sharp reversal. Before entering politics, he built a fortune that at one time was estimated at around $200 million as a technology and telecommunications investor and executive. His political identity, first as governor of Virginia and then as a senator, has been wrapped in promises to bring 21st century jobs. He has a broad and close network of tech executives and investors. Sen Warner is emblematic of the shifting politics for technology.