Google, Meta pressed by US Senator on Israel-Hamas war misinformation
Amir Levy/Getty Images News
A U.S. senator is seeking information from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL), TikTok and X on how they are trying to stop the spread of false content about the war in Israel. 
"Deceptive content has ricocheted across social media sites since the conflict began, sometimes receiving millions of views," Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, said in the letter addressed to the companies. 
Visuals from older conflicts, video game footage and altered documents are among misleading content that has flooded social media platforms, Reuters reported.
"In many cases, your platformsâ algorithms have amplified this content, contributing to a dangerous cycle of outrage, engagement, and redistribution,â Bennet said.
Bennet is seeking details on content moderation practices and demanded answers by October 31.
Last week, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, wrote letters to Meta Platforms (META), Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) and X, formally known as Twitter, to stamp out illegal content and disinformation on their platforms amid the war.
Under the continent's Digital Services Act, online platforms are required to remove illegal content from their platforms.
On Friday, Meta (META) said it created a special operations center with experts, including fluent Hebrew and Arabic speakers to monitor the situation in real time.
Linda Yaccarino, the Chief Executive Officer X, responded to Breton's letter and said the company has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas and "taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content" since Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month. 
Last week, the EU opened an investigation into X over the possible spread of violent content and hate speech, a first under the regionâs new tech rules, the BBC reported.

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