Tech CEOs including Mark Zuckerberg told "you have blood on your hands" during US Senate hearing
In a heated congressional hearing on Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, along with leaders of other social media companies, faced intense scrutiny and reprimand from lawmakers for their alleged failure to adequately safeguard children online.
The Senate Judiciary Committee opened the session with disturbing videos portraying individuals who claimed to be sexually exploited on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.
Senator Lindsey Graham accused Zuckerberg of having "blood on his hands," asserting that Meta's product was "killing people."
Committee chair, Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, criticized social media platforms, citing instances where Discord was used for child grooming, Meta's Instagram facilitated a network of pedophiles, and Snapchat's disappearing messages were exploited by criminals engaging in financial sextortion.
The CEOs, starting with Discord's Jason Citron, defended their child safety procedures and pledged to collaborate with lawmakers, parents, nonprofits, and law enforcement to enhance protection for minors. Meta disclosed a $5 billion expenditure on safety and security in 2023, while TikTok announced plans to allocate $2 billion in 2024 to address the issue.
Under pressure from Missouri Republican Josh Hawley to apologize to victims present at the hearing, Zuckerberg stood up, acknowledging the impact on families and emphasizing Meta's significant investments to prevent similar experiences. However, he declined to commit to Hawley's suggestion of establishing a victim's compensation fund.
Zuckerberg consistently denied a direct link between Facebook and teen mental health issues, asserting that scientific evidence did not overwhelmingly support such claims. He later acknowledged that while the bulk of the evidence does not suggest a connection, individual cases of issues may exist.
TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew affirmed the platform's diligence in enforcing the ban on children under 13, emphasizing their commitment to a safer environment. Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), claimed that her company did not cater to minors.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel issued an apology to parents whose children overdosed on fentanyl after purchasing drugs on Snapchat. He expressed regret for the company's inability to prevent these tragedies, highlighting efforts to block search terms linked to drugs and collaborate with law enforcement.
Child health advocates criticized social media companies, arguing that they repeatedly failed to protect minors. Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media, emphasized the need for independent regulation and urged companies to prioritize safety and privacy over revenue.
Meta currently faces lawsuits from numerous states, accusing the company of deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms while failing to protect them from online predators. Internal emails released by Senator Richard Blumenthal's office reveal concerns raised by executives, including Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, about the effects on youth mental health and a call to hire more personnel to strengthen well-being across the company.
Lawmakers are increasingly pushing for measures to combat the spread of child sexual abuse images online and hold tech platforms accountable for safeguarding children. The congressional session on Wednesday is part of a broader effort to pass legislation addressing the long-standing inaction by Congress in regulating social media companies.
During the hearing, Spiegel expressed support for a federal bill creating legal liability for apps and social platforms recommending harmful content to minors. Yaccarino endorsed the Stop CSAM Act, which aims to allow victims of child exploitation to sue technology companies.
Some Republican lawmakers directed their focus on TikTok, accusing Chew of sympathizing with China. Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton questioned Chew's potential fear of losing his job if he spoke negatively about the Chinese Communist Party, despite Chew's background and residence in Singapore.
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Vadodara car crash: FSL report reveals accused smoked marijuana, was not drunk
Vadodara: The main accused in the March 14 car crash in Vadodara, Rakshit Chaurasia, had smoked marijuana but was not under the influence of alcohol, according to the primary report from Gandhinagar’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Chaurasia, a 20-year-old law student, was driving a speeding car that rammed into two-wheelers near Muktanand crossroads in Karelibaug, killing a woman and injuring several others.
The FSL’s findings, as cited by police officials, revealed that Chaurasia’s blood sample tested positive for marijuana. Two others who were in the car with him—Praanshu Chauhan and Suresh Bharwad—also tested positive for the same. All three have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Chaurasia has also been booked under s. 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which deals with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He is currently lodged in Vadodara Central Jail. Chauhan has also been arrested, while Bharwad remains absconding.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 4, Panna Momaya, the blood reports confirmed drug consumption. "They were driving the car after smoking marijuana," she said.
CCTV footage showed the car speeding before taking a sharp turn and hitting the two-wheeler. In the moments before the crash, Chaurasia was seen behaving erratically, shouting "another round, another round," followed by chanting “Om Namah Shivay” and calling out a girl’s name, “Nikita.”
Later, Chaurasia told reporters that a pothole caused the accident and claimed he was driving at 50 km/hr. He also said the airbag deployment had obstructed his view.
