Grassley Discusses His Efforts to Hold Meta Accountable During Subcommittee Hearing on Company’s Failure to Protect Children

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) discussed his continued oversight of Big Tech and Meta in a subcommittee hearing today with two whistleblowers who formerly worked for Meta. Grassley outlined his longstanding support for whistleblowers and his efforts to hold Meta accountable for alleged failures to protect children online.

This month, Grassley, along with Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chairwoman and member, respectively, of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, demanded answers from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company's efforts to target teenagers based on their emotional state and on Meta's reported failure to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

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During my time in the Senate, I've always fought for whistleblowers, both in the government as well as in the private sector.

I've authored updates to the False Claims Act, the IRS whistleblower program and other whistleblower laws. And just this year, I've helped almost 20 government whistleblowers get their jobs back.

Whistleblowers are the key to rooting out fraud, waste and abuse. That includes the private sector, not just the government sector.

On September 13, 2022, [as] Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, I, along with Senator Durbin, held a hearing on these very issues.

A Twitter whistleblower at that time testified, disclosing to this committee that Twitter potentially exposed user data to foreign intelligence agencies, including the government of China. His disclosures made public that the FBI notified Twitter of at least one Chinese government agent at the company.

This month, I, along with Senators Blackburn and Hawley, sent a letter to Meta about the company's use of targeted ads against teenagers. Our letter highlighted concerns that Meta's potentially violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

It's been alleged that Meta collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.

My oversight has also shown that these tech companies look to silence whistleblowers. Last year, I wrote to Open A.I. about my concerns that they tried to silence whistleblowers. And I raised the same concerns this year with Meta.

To address this, I've introduced bipartisan legislation to implement whistleblower protections in the Artificial Intelligence industry.

Now, it's been alleged that another Meta whistleblower, Jason Sattizahan, has suffered retaliation. For example, in March 2023, he received a performance review stating he "exceeds expectations."

Then, in October 2023, he raised concerns to his leadership that Meta [may have] been violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. So, what did Meta do?

After spending six years at Meta, with promotions and positive performance reviews, they fired him six months after his disclosure.

Ms. Savage also raised concerns about Meta's compliance with the law. Instead of addressing her concerns, Meta's lawyers reportedly told Ms. Savage to make sure her work didn't put the company at "risk."

I often say that whistleblowers are treated like skunks at a picnic. It appears our witnesses - as well as the other whistleblowers who've approached me - have unfortunately been treated like those skunks.

We've been working on this for a long time … so I thank you folks for your courage and bravery in coming forward to Congress. I and my colleagues will continue our investigation.

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