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Schakowsky Statement on Pending Facebook Decision

May 4, 2021

EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, issued the following statement:

"No matter the Oversight Board's ruling, it represents another distraction by Facebook to deflect responsibility. The focus should not be on a decision about a single user—no matter how well-known—but instead on Facebook's own actions. Instead of being held to account for its role in allowing itself to be used as a platform for the planning of the January 6th insurrection, to say nothing of the spread of disinformation that inspired the attack, Facebook is hiding behind the Oversight Board to look like a forum for free expression. I can assure the American people that Facebook is not. It is one of a number of platforms trying to keep people glued to their phones for the sole purpose of delivering more and more advertisements.

"That's why we need real tech accountability legislation, like the Online Consumer Protection Act I'll be introducing with my friend and colleague Kathy Castor very soon. As Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, I welcome additional legislation from both sides of the aisle to ensure that nothing like what will happen tomorrow ever happens again."

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