USA TODAY
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg faced the music before Congress on Wednesday.
The Facebook founder and CEO of Meta, which also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, had a signature moment during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing called “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.”
During his questioning of Zuckerberg, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said that families of children and teens exploited on social networks were in attendance. “Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? … They’re here. You’re on national television.”
Zuckerberg got out of his chair and turned and faced the crowd in attendance. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” he said.
“No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invested so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things that your families had to suffer,” Zuckerberg said, and then sat back down.
Hawley continues questioning Zuckerberg
Hawley wasn’t done with Zuckerberg and asked whether he would take personal responsibility in compensating the victims.
“You’re a billionaire. Will you commit to compensating the victims?” he asked Zuckerberg. “Will you set up a victims’ compensation fund? With your money? The money you made on these families sitting behind you? Yes or no…
