WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement from Executive Director Sarah Miller in response to Facebook’s refusal to answer questions about COVID-19 misinformation from federal lawmakers:

Facebook’s terse rejection of basic oversight even as the coronavirus pandemic rapidly worsens is disgraceful. Luckily Congress has the power to subpoena the information Facebook is refusing to share. Lawmakers must do so immediately.

Beyond providing a disgusting and callous corporate response to human tragedy, Facebook’s refusal to provide any real insight into their role in stoking this deadly surge offers a reminder of how dangerous tech monopolies have become. Mark Zuckerberg thinks he runs a “private government” accountable to no-one — not even the millions of families around the globe who are grieving because of the tragedy he is enabling.

Washington has talked a lot lately about taking on Facebook. There can be no clearer reminder of the urgency to do so. Facebook’s profits are not more important than people’s lives. Policymakers must break up this misinformation monopoly and ban the surveillance advertising schemes that make it rich.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

###

The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.