Nadler Looks to Shift Focus of House Judiciary Committee in 2019
The basis for an upcoming hearing with Google CEO Sundar Pichai (see 1811280067) -- claims of Silicon Valley’s anti-conservative bias -- is “nonsense,” House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., told us Thursday. The expected chairman has “a lot of different priorities” for when Democrats take control of the House in 2019 and will be releasing “them in due course.” The hearing, originally scheduled for this past Wednesday, was rescheduled to Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Rayburn 2141 due to funeral services for former President George H.W. Bush (see 1812040061).
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Platforms allegedly censoring conservative voices is “one of a number of issues” that need to be discussed, committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., told Fox News, in addition to antitrust and privacy topics. The committee debated filtering issues in at least two previous hearings (see 1804260055 and 1807170043), with conservatives citing examples of censorship and Democrats calling the claims baseless.
“There’s a lot to talk about,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told us. The big question for tech is whether platforms should be treated like common carriers or media organizations, he said. “Are Google and Facebook and Twitter like public carriers and public utilities, or are they like media entities like newspapers and magazine and TV channels?” The First Amendment shields media organizations, while common carriers have First Amendment obligations to platform users, Raskin said.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, and Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., struck a tone similar to Nadler’s, with Cicilline telling us he has “seen no evidence to suggest” platforms are biased against conservatives. A Democratic-controlled House will deliver constructive results “on behalf of the American people” because that’s the “kind of leader” Nadler is, Lee told us. “If we’re going to label the hearing with predisposed thoughts, then it’s not valuable,” Lee said. “If we’re going to be constructive and get information on how best to ensure all voices are heard, liberal voices included, then it’s relevant.” It’s a waste of time if it’s only an opportunity for “shouting and shrill voices” labeling Silicon Valley liberal, she added.
“I hope that Silicon Valley will review the situation,” Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., who isn't a House Judiciary Committee member, told us. “We had [Facebook CEO Mark] Zuckerberg come before us several months ago, and I hope that Silicon Valley takes the matter seriously.” Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, declined comment. Offices for Goodlatte and his successor as ranking member, Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., didn't comment.
Other Republican lawmakers have raised anticompetitive concerns about Google. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, urged the FTC in August to revisit the “competitive effects of Google’s conduct in search and digital advertising” (see 1808300045). Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., previously sounded off about Google’s search market share, claiming the platform controls 85 percent.