WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement after the Committee unanimously approved authorizations to issue subpoenas to compel the testimony of Jack Dorsey, Chief Executive Officer, Twitter; Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer, Alphabet Inc., Google; and Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer, Facebook. The CEOs have not agreed to repeated requests to testify before the Committee on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which governs how online platforms moderate and display user generated content.   

“Technology companies argue that their broad liability shield should remain in place,” said Wicker. “However, they disproportionately suppress and censor conservative views online. Public testimony from these CEOs is critical as the Committee considers several proposals to reform the Communications Decency Act.” 

The authorizations to subpoena the witnesses were approved unanimously by voice votes.

Per Committee rules, an executive session was held today in order to authorize the issuance of subpoenas after the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee objected last week.