The Justice Department will meet with state attorneys general to discuss concerns that social media platforms were “intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas,” according to a statement released on Wednesday.
“The Attorney General has convened a meeting with a number of state attorneys general this month to discuss a growing concern that these companies may be hurting competition and intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas on their platforms,” said Justice Department spokesman Devin O’Malley in an email.
Many members of Congress fault social media platforms for failing to combat foreign efforts to influence U.S. politics.
Republicans have been vocal with their criticism of social media in recent months, claiming these platforms stifle conservative voices. Facebook, in particular, has been trying to shake off allegations of censorship since Gizmodo reported two years ago that the team in charge of the site’s “trending” list of stories was actively suppressing conservative news sources.
It is not clear if the Justice Department is pushing for regulation or actively investigating the platforms for issues relating to competition.
