Tech Titans And The Information Complex Facebook, Google and Twitter head to Washington for hearings on Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. NPR explores the growing social media landscape, the spread of false information and the tech firms that build the platforms.

Special Series

Tech Titans And The Information Complex

Subscribe to NPR's Up First Email

Tough Questions, Hours Of Hearings But No Silver Bullet On Russian Tech Interference

From left: Twitter's acting general counsel Sean Edgett, Facebook's general counsel Colin Stretch and Google's senior vice president and general counsel Kent Walker, testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Tough Questions, Hours Of Hearings But No Silver Bullet On Russian Tech Interference

November 2, 2017 • A marathon on Capitol Hill this week yielded new details about the scale and nature of Russian interference in the 2016 election, but no easy solution for preventing the next effort by the Kremlin.

How Russian-Backed Agitation Online Spilled Into The Real World In 2016

Facebook ads linked to a Russian effort to disrupt the American political process are displayed as, from left, Google's Kent Walker, Facebook's Colin Stretch and Twitter's Sean Edgett, testify during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

How Russian-Backed Agitation Online Spilled Into The Real World In 2016

November 1, 2017 • Facebook, Twitter and Google faced questions from the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on Wednesday, revealing more than ever about last year's Russian interference campaign.

How Russian-Backed Agitation Online Spilled Into The Real World In 2016

Listen · 3:21 3:21

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/560481387/561455568" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Russian Interference Campaign Was Broader Than First Known, Big Tech Tells Hill

Representatives of Facebook, Google and Twitter are testifying on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about Russia's use of their platforms. Liam James Doyle/NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Liam James Doyle/NPR

Russian Interference Campaign Was Broader Than First Known, Big Tech Tells Hill

October 31, 2017 • Facebook, Twitter and Google are telling members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday they've discovered even more use of their platforms by influence-mongers in 2016.

Mark Zuckerberg's Big Blind Spot And The Conflict Within Facebook

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said connecting the world means bringing people together. But increasingly the platform is being used by some very powerful elements to sow divisions. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Mark Zuckerberg's Big Blind Spot And The Conflict Within Facebook

October 31, 2017 • In whatever corner of the world Facebook is operating, it has become clear that people are using this powerful platform as a communications tool in ways that founder Mark Zuckerberg never envisioned.

Mark Zuckerberg's Big Blind Spot And The Conflict Within Facebook

Listen · 4:08 4:08

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/560667628/561339749" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

With Huge Fines, German Law Pushes Social Networks To Delete Abusive Posts

Anas Modamani speaks to the media Feb. 6 in Wuerzburg, Germany, after a court session about his lawsuit against Facebook. Modamani's suit, regarding the misuse of a selfie he took of himself with German Chancellor Angela Merkel was rejected, but his lawyer Lawyer Chan-Jo Jun, right, says that under a new law a lawsuit might not even have been necessary. Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

Parallels

With Huge Fines, German Law Pushes Social Networks To Delete Abusive Posts

October 31, 2017 • Social media companies could be penalized by as much as $58.3 million if they don't remove a malicious post from their platforms soon after it is reported — in some cases within 24 hours.

With Huge Fines, German Law Pushes Social Networks To Delete Abusive Posts

Listen · 4:11 4:11

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/561024666/561063732" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Facebook's Advertising Tools Complicate Efforts To Stop Russian Interference

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., (left) and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., holds a news conference Oct. 19 to introduce legislation designed to increase the transparency of political ads on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Facebook's Advertising Tools Complicate Efforts To Stop Russian Interference

October 30, 2017 • Facebook says 126 million people may have seen Russian content aimed at influencing Americans. Marketing gurus say Facebook is unlikely to solve the problem because of its ad-based business model.

Facebook's Advertising Tools Complicate Efforts To Stop Russian Interference

Listen · 4:34 4:34

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/560836775/560920921" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Are Social Media Sites Doing Enough To Combat Rumors And False News?

Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano updates the media on evacuation and search-and-rescue efforts on Oct. 11, as wildfires devastate the county. At a more recent news conference, Giordano struck down wildfire-related rumors circulating on social media. Paul Elias/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Paul Elias/AP

Are Social Media Sites Doing Enough To Combat Rumors And False News?

October 29, 2017 • As they struggle with disasters and other crises, police, fire and other public officials are spending an increasing amount of time and resources knocking down rumors spreading on social media.

Are Social Media Sites Doing Enough To Combat Rumors And False News?

Listen · 4:44 4:44

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/560569373/560725838" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

How Russian Propaganda Spreads On Social Media

Chelsea Beck/NPR

All Tech Considered

How Russian Propaganda Spreads On Social Media

October 29, 2017 • Experts say such propaganda sows divisions within society by confirming beliefs. Facebook, Google and Twitter officials are testifying this week about Russian influence on the 2016 election.

How Russian Propaganda Spreads On Social Media

Listen · 4:35 4:35

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/560461835/560660232" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Twitter Bans Ads From Russian State Media, Citing Election Interference Efforts

Twitter ended its advertising relationship with Russia Today and Sputnik on Thursday based on "the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that both RT and Sputnik attempted to interfere with the election on behalf of the Russian government." NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Twitter Bans Ads From Russian State Media, Citing Election Interference Efforts

October 26, 2017 • The microblog service announced the move "effective immediately" ahead of a congressional hearing about Russia's use of social media in its influence campaign.

Matt Rourke/AP

Under Congressional Microscope, Twitter Vows New 'Transparency' On Ads

October 25, 2017 • The microblogging service has promised a new wave of disclosure about who uses it to advertise as the Hill continues probing the Russia imbroglio.

Browse archive or search npr.org