Tech firm executives to testify before US Senate about election threats

[September 11, 2024]  By Kanishka Singh
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Executives from major tech firms like Google, Adobe, Microsoft and Meta Platforms will testify next week at a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on election threats. 

President of Global Affairs at Google Kent Walker speaks under the heading "Defending Ukraine - View from Tech" during Copenhagen Democracy Summit in the Skuespilhuset in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 10, 2022. Ritzau Scanpix/Philip Davali via REUTERS/File Photo

Google parent Alphabet's global affairs president Kent Walker, Meta's global affairs president Nick Clegg, Microsoft President Brad Smith and a representative from Adobe will testify at the Sept. 18 hearing, a spokesperson from the office of Senator Mark Warner, who chairs the panel, confirmed.

U.S. officials have been attempting to crack down on efforts to spread disinformation and misinformation online surrounding the Nov. 5 election in which Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will face off. Polls show a tight contest.

Previous U.S. intelligence assessments have said that Russia, Iran and China have tried to meddle in American elections, allegations which those nations deny. Those nations have alleged that Washington interferes in their domestic affairs, claims that the U.S. denies.

Tech executives have testified previously before the U.S. Congress over election-related hearings in recent years.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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