Tag: subpoenas
Genshin Impact Developer Subpoenas Twitter to Uncover Leaker Identities
House panel subpoenas the CEOs from tech’s biggest companies over content moderation
Now that Republicans control the House of Representatives, they’re preparing to grill technology giants over accusations of content censorship. The Wall Street Journal has learned that House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has subpoenaed the CEOs of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft for information on their content moderation methods. The leaders have until March 23rd to provide any communications between them and the federal government’s executive branch on the subject.
Jordan’s panel wants to know “how and to what extent” the federal government allegedly pressured and coordinated with companies to censor content. The requests include details about people responsible for shaping moderation policies as well as those who’ve talked to the executive branch. Like numerous Republican politicians, Jordan has long maintained that major tech companies censor conservative views under the guise of curbing hate speech and misinformation.
The representative notably didn’t subpoena Twitter, which he likely feels is more supportive of right-wing views with Elon Musk at the helm. The social network recently reinstated Donald Trump’s account (still inactive), and has been sharing internal “Twitter Files” that covered the company’s sharing limits on a New York Post story on Hunter Biden as well as the decision to ban Trump following the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol. While right-wing figures have portrayed the disclosure as proof of anti-conservative censorship, critics have argued the documents don’t offer substantially new details, don’t provide evidence of conspiracy and were given only to writers likely to share Musk’s views.
We’ve asked the five companies for comment. Microsoft confirmed the request in a statement to Engadget, noting that it’s providing documents and plans to work in “good faith” with the committee. The firms have repeatedly denied allegations of bias and insist that they’re only trying to remove falsehoods and other harmful material.
Whether or not the House panel can take action is another matter. Attempts to prove an anti-conservative bias have failed so far, with multiplestudies showing no evidence of these leanings. There’s also evidence that platforms like Facebook made exemptions for right-wing content that violated misinformation policies, fearing a backlash if they enforced their rules consistently.
U.S. House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Apple for Info on Alleged Free Speech Suppression
Subpoenas for documents and communications were sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Curiously, the panel left out Twitter CEO Elon Musk despite the fact that Twitter is one of the most popular social networks.
U.S. House Judiciary Committee Republicans plan to investigate whether the federal government “colluded” with tech companies to “suppress free speech” on issues like COVID-19. Republican lawmakers have long suggested that social networks and tech companies engage in anti-conservative bias by suppressing conservative voices.
In an announcement of the subpoenas, Jordan said that the House Judiciary Committee has “attempted to engage” with Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet since last year, but has been unsuccessful.
🚨HUGE BREAKING NEWS: @Jim_Jordan subpoenas Big Tech CEOs. pic.twitter.com/WuOWccu2ZC
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) February 15, 2023
Apple and the other companies will need to provide documents and communications with the U.S. government on topics that include moderation, deletion, and reduced circulation of content by March 23.
This article, “U.S. House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Apple for Info on Alleged Free Speech Suppression” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Elon Musk Subpoenas Jack Dorsey In Legal Battle Over $44 Billion Twitter Deal
“Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust,” Dorsey tweeted. “I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness.” Dorsey also had a discussion with Musk about social media’s future and open social protocols in late March before Musk made a bid in April to purchase Twitter for $54.20 per share, a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission says. Twitter shareholders are expected to vote on the deal on Sept. 13.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Elon Musk subpoenas Jack Dorsey ahead of Twitter court battle
Elon Musk subpoenas Jack Dorsey amid Twitter legal fight
Lawyers representing Elon Musk in his battle with Twitter have subpoenaed former CEO Jack Dorsey. The filing is the latest development as Musk and Twitter prepare for the October trial over Musk’s attempt to bail on his $44 billion deal to buy the company.
It’s not yet clear how Dorsey factors in to Musk’s legal strategy. As noted by the Chancery Daily Twitter account, the subpoena refers to “documents and communications reflecting, referring to, or relating to the impact or effect of false or spam accounts on Twitter’s business operations.” It also references documents related to how Twitter uses mDAU or monetizable daily active users as a “key metric.” Interestingly, it also requests “documents relating to incorporating mDAU into executive or director compensation.”
Dorsey isn’t the only former Twitter executive subpoenaed by Musk. Twitter’s recently ousted product chief Kayvon Beykpour and former head of revenue Bruce Falck have also received subpoenas.
Musk has claimed that Twitter has misled him and the public about the number of bots and fake accounts on the platform. Twitter’s lawyers have argued that Musk has repeatedly broken the terms of his agreement with the company. A five-day trial is scheduled to begin October 17th.
Dorsey previously endorsed Musk’s bid to buy Twitter, saying that “Elon is the singular solution I trust,” and that he was ““getting the company out of an impossible situation.” Dorsey hasn’t publicly weighed in on the ongoing legal battle or Musk’s claims about bots and fake accounts.