Top executives from leading technology companies are set to testify before the US Senate on January 31st, 2024, addressing concerns related to child exploitation during a scheduled hearing.



The Senate Judiciary Committee, in a statement released on Wednesday, confirmed the participation of key figures in the tech industry. Among those summoned are Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X (formerly Twitter) CEO Linda Yaccarino, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and Discord CEO Jason Citron.

Earlier this month, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) issued subpoenas for Yaccarino, Spiegel, and Citron after facing "repeated refusals to appear during several weeks of negotiations."

While Zuckerberg and Chew volunteered to testify, the senators asserted that this hearing provides the CEOs with an opportunity to "testify about their failure to protect children online."



Meta has been entangled in legal battles with over a dozen states, accused of misleading the public about the safety of Facebook and Instagram. School districts across the US have filed lawsuits against Meta, ByteDance, and Snap, alleging that the platforms have become "addictive" for children.

Senators Durbin and Graham, in a joint statement, commented, "We've known from the beginning that our efforts to protect children online would be met with hesitation from Big Tech. They finally are being forced to acknowledge their failures when it comes to protecting kids. Now that all five companies are cooperating, we look forward to hearing from their CEOs. Parents and kids demand action."

Critics argue that recent bills aimed at monitoring safety are too far-reaching and may do more harm than good. In March 2023, Utah signed a bill requiring minors to obtain parental consent to sign up on social platforms.