Facebook Inc., Google LLC and Twitter Inc. were called to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for another grilling, this time to discuss how extremist content and hate speech can be combated on their platforms.

Representing the tech firms were Facebook Head of Global Policy Management Monika Bickert, Twitter Public Policy Director Nick Pickles and Google Global Director of Information Policy Derek Slater.

Under the title, “Mass Violence, Extremism, and Digital Responsibility,” a U.S. Senate Committee told the companies that not enough is being done to remove such content and asked what improvements could be made. The hearing came just a day after Facebook announced a number of new initiatives to fight extremist content.

Facebook’s Bickert discussed those new initiatives, telling the panel that progress has been made and now with the help of the company’s artificial intelligence, extreme content can be spotted and taken down in just 12 seconds. She also explained how Facebook now has hundreds of partnerships with organizations and government agencies to help detect extreme violence. It was a live video of the mass shooting in Christchurch that appeared on Facebook that put the company in such hot water.

Twitter was questioned by Senator Rick Scott, who asked the company why it hasn’t banned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in spite of alleged human rights violations. Pickles said that he had not broken any rules, adding, “If we remove that person’s account it will not change facts on the ground.”

Republican Senator Rick Scott then turned to Google and YouTube. Scott was governor of Florida at the time of the Parkland shooting. He asked why the shooter had been able to leave a comment on YouTube prior to the attack. Slater said Google is now working more closely with law enforcement in the U.S. and gave some instances when the company has been able to find extreme comments, which in one case led to an arrest.

Overall, all the representatives explained that it was not in the interest of the of their company to allow extremist content to appear on their platforms. Still, Senator Deb Fischer pointed out that there are still “shortfalls” and more needs to be done.

Photo: YouTube