Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

nbcnews.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 200 posts

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#11

Post by gilbetron »

umvi wrote: post #2

The implication from the committee is that these companies should have monitored and suppressed/censored their users harder? Is the committee looking for a scapegoat or something?

No, the "inadequate response" they are talking about is that the companies didn't give them the information the committee is asking for. So they are using subpoenas to get it. If there is a trump org, or connected org, that was pushing propaganda on Facebook trying to get people to do something violent, that is extremely important and fully within congress' mandate to have access to. Likewise, if the opposite occurred, and if there isn't any propaganda or misinformation, that's important as well.

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#12

Post by altgoogler »

Disclaimer: am googler, my opinions are my own. I have no non-public knowledge on this topic.

It's not clear to me what the House committee is asking for. From what I read in their letters it's basically, "We think you have more than you've given us, so give it to us".

That's not how this works. If you want to subpoena information, you need to be specific and targeted. If you don't get what you think you want, call people in to testify.

Here's the actual Committee release [1]. Two quotes from the Alphabet letter:

"For example, Alphabet has not produced any documents that fully explain non-public moderation discussions and policies" "Additionally, Alphabet has not produced documents relating to YouTube’s policy decisions"

But, IIRC, YouTube (and Twitter) were pretty publicly vocal and specific about their policies for months preceding Jan 6th. I just don't see what warrants this round of grandstanding.

[1] https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/select-comm...

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#13

Post by DerpyBaby123 »

umvi wrote: post #2

The implication from the committee is that these companies should have monitored and suppressed/censored their users harder? Is the committee looking for a scapegoat or something?

Why do you jump to that conclusion? Youtube's algo is long suspected of pushing more and more extreme/radical content, and the comittee seems to be looking for more information on if that process affected the Jan 6 riot

That's not looking for a scapegoat; it's looking for a set of root causes

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#15

Post by Bhilai »

oxymoran wrote: post #4

Man, the democrats are really trying to hand republicans every election for the next decade.

Man, I wish I could vote for some sane republicans but as its turning out their complicity or silence on Jan 6 is making me believe that entire party is unhinged like Trump.

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#16

Post by Ardon »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #9

We have a First Amendment... but if you run a platform that does not even use the First Amendment, you'll get subpoenaed and harassed. In theory, I ran a platform that protected everything the First Amendment did, and protected nothing that the Amendment did not protect, I should be legally in the clear. But I'm not going to attempt such a thing - because it's clear Congress would do the ultimate shakedown.

But this subpoena has nothing to do with the first amendment, they're demanding for more records, not levying a penalty for not removing these people.

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#18

Post by shrimpx »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #9

We have a First Amendment... but if you run a platform that does not even use the First Amendment, you'll get subpoenaed and harassed. In theory, I ran a platform that protected everything the First Amendment did, and protected nothing that the Amendment did not protect, I should be legally in the clear. But I'm not going to attempt such a thing - because it's clear Congress would do the ultimate shakedown.

What do Twitter and Reddit have to do with the first amendment?

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#19

Post by IgorPartola »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #9

We have a First Amendment... but if you run a platform that does not even use the First Amendment, you'll get subpoenaed and harassed. In theory, I ran a platform that protected everything the First Amendment did, and protected nothing that the Amendment did not protect, I should be legally in the clear. But I'm not going to attempt such a thing - because it's clear Congress would do the ultimate shakedown.

How to misunderstand the situation 101: bring the first amendment into the discussion when that’s not what the discussion is about.

Let me break this down for you: you host a weekly poker night. My buddies and I come and during these nights plan a crime. We than carry out a crime and get arrested. The investigators come to you and ask “what did those guys talk about at your poker nights?” You say “poker stuff”. They subpoena you to get a better answer. Where in all of this did the first amendment come into play?

Re: Jan 6 committee subpoenas Meta, Google, Reddit etc. after 'inadequate responses'

#20

Post by creaghpatr »

altgoogler wrote: post #12

Disclaimer: am googler, my opinions are my own. I have no non-public knowledge on this topic. It's not clear to me what the House committee is asking for. From what I read in their letters it's basically, "We think you have more than you've given us, so give it to us". That's not how this works. If you want to subpoena information, you need to be specific and targeted. If you don't get what you think you want, call p…

The press release is the endgame here.
Post reply on HN