Reports of the appearance by Twitter President Jack Dorsey before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday generally focused on the claims by several Republican House Members that Twitter's algorithms are slanted against conservatives.
The highlight of the hearing was the sudden outburst by radio personality Laura Loomer to “Stop Lying, Jack Dorsey” and her being escorted out by police as Rep. Billy Long, R.-Mo., used his auctioneer’s voice to drown out Loomer’s shouting.
But one little-noticed but significant part of the Twitter hearings was the attention lawmakers paid to Russian “trolling” of social media during U.S. elections.
“This is still a significant issue and something Dorsey should address,” Energy and Commerce Committee Member Adam Kinzinger, R.-Ill., told Newsmax during a break.
Asked by Rep. Kathy Castor, D.-Fla., whether Russian trolls and phony accounts on Twitter “influenced our election,” Dorsey said that others have described the contest for superior technology by the two countries as an “arms race.”
“We intend to keep up,” the Twitter boss told Castor.
House Republicans appear to be divided over just how much Russia influenced the U.S. elections through social media. While Kinzinger feels it had a major effect, another Republican Energy and Commerce Committee member told us he did not feel it was as significant in this year’s mid-term election.
“Not in this one [2018],” Rep. Joe Barton, R.-Tex., said.. “We should take measures to prevent it as much as possible in ’20. But the American people are not stupid. People like Jack Dorsey need to take measures to prevent it in ’20. But I don’t believe at all it can change an election. The American people are too smart.”
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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