Top Senate Latino blasts social media CEOs for alleged Spanish-language misinformation campaigns

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in calling on the Chief Executive Officers of the leading social media platforms to meet to discuss concerns surrounding alleged Spanish-language online misinformation campaigns.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, letters were sent to the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

"Addressing Spanish-language misinformation must remain an urgent priority. Many federal and state agencies, Members of Congress, and public health organizations rely on social media platforms to communicate life-saving health information and share federal resources during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter read.

“Many Members have publicly raised the alarm on the spread of Spanish-language misinformation online…As Hispanic Members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight of the role digital platforms play in how we communicate with our communities and how our communities receive important information.”

The letter was signed by 21 Democrats including Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Darren Soto (D-Fla.-09), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.-03), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.29), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-16), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.-32), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.34), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.-07), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas-16), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Filemon Vela (D-Texas-34), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas-29), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.-40).

Last summer, Menendez and 25 Democratic lawmakers sent a similar letters to big tech CEOs regarding alleged COVID-19 vaccine disinformation on their platforms.

Shortly after, Menendez sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg blasting his company for a “continued lack of transparency," calling on the platform’s leadership to release data on alleged vaccine misinformation.