Headline RoundupJuly 29th, 2020

Big Tech CEOs Face Antitrust Hearing

Technology, Business, Congress, Social Media, Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, Google

Summary from the AllSides News Team

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple appeared in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives' antitrust subcommittee. Officials interrogated the tech CEOs about alleged predatory business practices, theft of digital content and copying and purchasing of competing businesses. The virtual hearing is a result of 13 months of investigation into the companies' alleged monopolies on the tech industry. During the hearing, Republican officials asked questions about anti-conservative bias, while Democratic officials tended to ask more questions about competitive domination. Officials also asked questions about surveillance and about the Chinese government stealing U.S. technology. Some left- and right-rated outlets tended to highlight some Republican lawmakers' questions on anti-conservative bias. Many outlets from all sides of the political spectrum provided live updates.

Featured Coverage of this Story

From the Right

Congress Used the Antitrust Hearing To Peddle Petty Grievances Against Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

Reason

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Reason

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The top executives of four major tech companies—Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google—were hauled before Congress on Wednesday; each accused of being an online monopoly that may require government action.

Math, as the $26 trillion national debt might suggest, is not exactly Congress' strong suit.

One thing Congress is quite good at, however, is putting on a show—and Wednesday's hearing of the House Judiciary Committee was more about theatrics than seriously considering the use of antitrust law. Perhaps that's because it's somewhat ridiculous to argue with a straight face that Google...

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From the Left

Tech's major powers face heat during House antitrust hearing

Axios

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Wednesday's House antitrust hearing with the CEOs of Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple went down some politically fraught rabbit holes, but also saw tech's most powerful figures face sharper questions than they've seen before from Washington.

What's happening: Republicans slammed the companies for alleged anti-conservative bias, but Democrats largely narrowed their focus to possible competitive abuses, putting the CEOs on their back feet and producing some surprising admissions.

Why it matters: The face-off is the culmination of a protracted conflict between Washington and Silicon Valley that has seen members of...

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From the Left

Big Tech CEOs face off with Congress

Washington Post

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Democrats and Republicans in Congress came out swinging against Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google on Wednesday, needling the tech giants’ top executives over their size, power and approach to a wide array of issues, including the content they allow online.

Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), the chairman of the House’s top antitrust subcommittee, opened the wide-ranging hearing by stressing that lawmakers’ year-long investigation into the industry had informed his growing belief that the country’s largest technology companies have “wielded their power in disruptive, harmful ways,” risking not only competition but...

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