Senate Democrat questions tech giants on efforts to stop false Israel-Hamas conflict content

Sen. Michael Bennet requested information from several tech giants Tuesday about their efforts to respond to the spread of misinformation about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Colorado Democrat sent a letter to the heads of Facebook-parent Meta, Google-parent Alphabet, TikTok and X — the platform formerly known as Twitter — expressing concerns about “false and misleading content” related to the conflict.

False claims about the conflict have spread rapidly on social media in the days since Hamas launched its initial attack on Israel, with old, unrelated photos and videos and even video game footage being misrepresented as current and genuine.

“In many cases, your platforms’ algorithms have amplified this content, contributing to a dangerous cycle of outrage, engagement, and redistribution,” Bennet said in Tuesday’s letter. “Your platforms have made particular design decisions that hamper your ability to identify and remove illegal and dangerous content.” 

He pointed to several decisions by the tech companies, including recent cuts to teams focused on fact-checking and content moderation at X, Meta and Google.

“These decisions contribute to a cascade of violence, paranoia, and distrust around the world,” the senator said. “Your platforms are helping produce an information ecosystem in which basic facts are increasingly in dispute, while untrustworthy sources are repeatedly designated as authoritative.”

The letter follows a series of recent warnings from the European Union to the same four tech companies over the spread of misinformation and violent content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sent the strongest warnings to X owner Elon Musk and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, noting that there were “indications” the platforms were being used to spread “illegal content and disinformation.”

Breton said in both letters that the social media companies had failed to take down “illegal content” flagged by authorities and emphasized the need to put in place “proportionate and effective mitigation measures” to address disinformation.

Despite X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s response — which noted that the platform has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas and removed or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content in the wake of the conflict — Breton said Thursday that the EU had launched a probe into X’s handling of Israel-Hamas content.

Bennet acknowledged the recent statements the four tech companies have made about their efforts to counteract misinformation but argued that the “mountain of false content clearly demonstrates that your current policies and protocols are inadequate” and urged them to take “immediate and concerted” action.