Grassley Highlights Ongoing Oversight of Big Tech, Calls for Answers

Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
"From the Courtroom to Congress: Why Landmark Social Media Verdicts Demand Federal Action to Protect Kids Online"
Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law
Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Thank you, Chair Blackburn, for holding a hearing on this important matter.

The recent verdicts against social media companies related to their addictive platforms make clear that Congress must take meaningful action to protect kids online.

And that meaningful action must include oversight and legislation.

That's why I've introduced multiple bipartisan bills.

Those bills include the Sentencing Accountability for Exploitation Act, the Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Act, and the Stop Sextortion Act with Ranking Member Durbin.

I've also joined Senator Graham in introducing legislation that would repeal Section 230 immunity for Big Tech companies.

These bipartisan bills aim to hold violent criminals accountable and combat online child exploitation.

On February 19, 2025, and December 9, 2025, I held Judiciary Committee hearings on child safety in the digital era and protecting kids against online exploitation.

And for over a year, myself and Senators Blackburn and Hawley have investigated Meta.

On April 14, 2025, and April 16, 2025, I wrote to Meta. In those letters, I raised concerns about Meta's reported efforts to silence whistleblowers.

Former Meta employees blew the whistle on Meta's employment agreements, the company's ties to China, potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the company's alleged practices of targeting vulnerable teenagers.

In those letters, I raised concerns and made records public regarding Meta's use of targeted ads towards teenagers.

Then, on September 2, 2025, and September 10, 2025, I, along with Senators Blackburn and Hawley, sent additional letters to Meta.

In those letters, we raised concerns about their use of targeted advertisements, protection of teens on their platforms, compliance with Federal Trade Commission orders and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

We also noted whistleblower disclosures and public reporting concerns about the company's interactions with the Chinese Communist Party, and data privacy and security measures on WhatsApp.

We raised additional questions about how Meta uses their generative artificial intelligence platforms to target kids.

To date, Meta has failed to fully comply with our investigative demands.

So, on March 11, 2026, we sent Meta a follow up letter.

In that letter, we raised new concerns about public reporting and court filings stating that Meta misled the public about the risks associated with their products.

However, Meta isn't the only company that must address how they're protecting our kids from online abuse.

The public deserves to know how these companies are protecting kids from risks related to their platforms.

This committee's efforts on these important matters will continue.

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