'Yes or no?' Tech CEOs grilled on misinformation

“Your business model itself has become the problem."

In their first appearance before Congress since Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the chief executives of Facebook, Google and Twitter were grilled Thursday on everything from their role in the riots.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle: "I just want a yes or no answer. Yes or no, do you bear some responsibility for what happened."

To proliferation of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation - to concerns about the impact of social media on children, including asking questions about Facebook’s plan to create a version of Instagram for kids.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers: "I've lost faith in your companies."

Lawmakers widely slammed the platforms’ approach to false or dangerous content. The three companies have taken steps to curb misinformation but researchers have shown it is still widely present on the platforms. Republicans on the panel also criticized the tech giants for what they see as efforts to stifle conservative voices.

Social media has been widely blamed for amplifying calls to violence and spreading misinformation that contributed to the Jan. 6 attempt to violently overturn the election results.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his company's policies and tried to shift the blame to politicians for stirring anger and distrust.

Zuckerberg: "We did our part to secure the integrity of the election, and then on January 6, President Trump gave a speech rejecting the results and calling on people to fight...... I believe \that the division we see today is primarily the results of political and media environment that drives Americans apart.”

When asked if their companies' platforms played a part in violence on Jan. 6, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was the only CEO to say the company did bear some responsibility.

Dorsey: "Yes, but you have to take into consideration the broader ecosystem."

Thursday's hearing comes as some lawmakers are calling for Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to be altered or even scrapped.

The law shields online platforms from liability over user content.

In written testimony released on Wednesday, Facebook argued that Section 230 should be redone to allow companies immunity from liability for what users put on their platforms only if they follow best practices for removing damaging material.

The hearing was virtual but near the Capitol an advocacy group erected cut-outs of the three CEOs dressed as some of the Jan. 6 rioters whose images went viral in the days following the attack.

One showed Zuckerberg as the "QAnon Shaman," a shirtless rioter wearing horns.