WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th September, 2018) US Attorney General Jeff Sessions will meet with state attorneys general to discuss whether social media companies knowingly suppress the free exchange of ideas, Justice Department spokesperson Devin O'Malley said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The Attorney General has convened a meeting with a number of state attorneys general this month to discuss a growing concern that these companies may be hurting competition and intentionally stifling free exchange of ideas," O'Malley said.
The announcement came as social media executives defended their policies in separate hearings on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday morning, Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on foreign influence in social media. Later the same day, Dorsey was questioned by the House Commerce Committee about the alleged political bias on his platform.
The Justice Department noted that it followed the morning Senate hearing closely. O'Malley did not provide a date for the upcoming meeting with Sessions.
US President Donald Trump and several fellow Republicans have accused social media firms and other tech companies of discriminating against conservatives.
Trump has warned Twitter, Facebook and Google that they should "be careful" and has accused tech companies of "suppressing" conservative viewpoints, though the president did not provide evidence to support the claim.
