Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, is seen during its’ first hearing on Thursday, February 9, 2023 to discuss politicization of the federal government and attacks on civil liberties.
GOP chairman: Alphabet redacted info from documents
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) urged Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, to fully comply with a subpoena requiring the production of unredacted documents related to the company’s communications with the federal government.
Jordan said in a letter sent on Monday that the company released insufficient information, producing only 4,049 pages of material with key details redacted “despite explicit instructions” not to do so.
“Alphabet has frustrated the Committee’s review of the responsive material by unilaterally redacting key information necessary to understand the context and content of the material,” Jordan said.
“These redactions do not appear to be based on any applicable privilege — because Alphabet has asserted none — and the Committee requires this material to be produced without redactions,” he added.
Jordan said he expects Alphabet to submit all requested documents without redactions by May 22, including some that he believes are in the company’s possession but haven’t been released.
Alphabet is one of several tech companies — including Amazon, Apple and Meta — that the committee subpoenaed in February for “reported collusion with the federal government … to suppress free speech.”
Elon Musk said Monday that Twitter would be purging accounts on the social media platform that had been active for a number of years, continuing a bevy of policy changes that Musk has handed down at the company. “We’re purging accounts that have had no activity at all for several years, so you will probably see follower count drop,” Twitter CEO Musk said in a post Monday. It was unclear whether the policy would affect the account …
The Biden administration is prepping regulations that will seek to address benefits consumers receive when dealing with widespread flight delays and cancellations after travel mishaps over the holidays last year wreaked havoc on airline customers. The White House and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will announce Monday a rulemaking process that will examine the possibility of slapping requirements on airlines in the …
Geoffrey Hinton, a leading pioneer of artificial intelligence (AI), has warned that the new technology could pose a “more urgent” existential threat than climate change. “I wouldn’t like to devalue climate change. I wouldn’t like to say, ‘You shouldn’t worry about climate change.’ That’s a huge risk too,” Hinton said in an interview with Reuters. “But I think this might …
News we’ve flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics:
Twitter criticized for displaying graphic images of Texas mall shooting
The social media platform is facing criticism from users for not moderating graphic content from the deadly mall shooting in Texas over the weekend, CBS News reported.
Amazon to release movies on other streaming services
The tech giant will make its movies and TV shows available to other services besides Prime Video, Bloomberg reported.
In Other News
Branch out with other reads on The Hill:
Congress eyes new rules for tech: What’s under consideration
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Democrats and Republicans agree that the federal government should better regulate the biggest technology companies, particularly social media platforms. But there is very little consensus on how it should be done. Should TikTok be banned? Should younger children be kept off …
The man who police say killed eight people and injured seven others in a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Texas over the weekend may have expressed interest in white supremacist ideology, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump should be held accountable for sexually attacking an advice columnist in 1996 because even a former president is not above … Read more
After a disappointing performance from Republicans in the 2022 midterms, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) laid out his plans to take back … Read more
