A Platform for Political Theater

On September 5, 2018, lawmakers on Capitol Hill hosted two hearings with the heads of Facebook and Twitter. In the morning, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence at the hearing on Foreign Influence Operations’ Use of Social Media Platforms. Later that day, just Dorsey appeared before the House Commerce Committee at the hearing, Twitter: Transparency and Accountability.  The hearings provided the opportunity for lawmakers to air their grievances about online platforms, and to get some answers as to whether Facebook and Twitter are doing enough to ensure the platforms provide a safe and trusted information environment ahead of the 2018 elections. But behind it all lurked the threat of regulation.