⁍ Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg struggled to connect virtually, bringing the hearing to a brief halt.

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⁍ The topic of reforming the law has split U.S. lawmakers on ways to hold Big Tech accountable for how they moderate content on their platforms.

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⁍ Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and Google’s Sundar Pichai told the committee that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is crucial to free expression on the internet.

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– Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday to discuss the future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law that protects internet companies from liability over content posted by users. The CEOs argued the law is crucial to free expression on the internet, but Zuckerberg struggled to connect virtually, Reuters reports. The committee was unable to establish contact with Zuckerberg and declared a short recess. He appeared shortly after and said: “I was having a hard time connecting myself.” Zuckerberg further said he supports changing the law but also warned that tech platforms are likely to censor more to avoid legal risks if Section 230 is repealed. All three CEOs agreed the companies should be held liable if the platforms act as a publisher. The topic has split US lawmakers on ways to hold Big Tech accountable for how they moderate content on their platforms and shape political discourse. Twitter Inc’s Jack Dorsey and Google’s Sundar Pichai told the committee that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—which protects companies from liability over content posted by users—is crucial to free expression on the internet. Twitter’s Dorsey warned the committee that eroding the foundation of Section 230 could significantly hurt how people communicate online. Pichai said the company operates without political bias and that doing otherwise would be against its business interests. The hearing comes after Trump has repeatedly called for tech companies to be held accountable for allegedly stifling conservative voices.