Free and fair vote. We are holding this hearing and we engage regularly with social Media Companies because they are best positioned to sound the alarm if and when another external actor attempts to interfere. First, because their technical capacity and security background and allows them to protect malicious activity on their platforms, and make attributions to technical indicators that are available only to the companies themselves. And second, because we cannot have complete confidence that the white house will allow the Intelligence Community to look fully and properly inform congress, if there is a foreign interference, especially if the interference appears to assist the president s reelection. That is a dangerous state of affairs, but nonetheless it reflects the reality and why theres hearing is so important. Witnesses, as you described, a lot has changed. In many ways we are better prepared today than we were four years ago. Each of your companies have taken significant steps a
The head of Cyber Security policy also addressed the recent decision to remove an ad for President Trump that included a nazi symbol. This is two hours. Memberst to thank our and supporting staff for helping possible. Ndays event without objection, the chair recess aty declare any time. Before we talk about merging trends, howerging to address some housekeeping matters. First, todays session will be conducted entirely on an unclassified basis. All participants should refrain from classifying any the committee is conducting this in compliance with House Resolution 965 and a Remote Committee proceeding. It is being broadcast live on the website. Like many of you, i would have prefer to hold this in washington dc but because the covid19 pandemic remains serious and widespread, there proceeding remotely to ensure the safety of our witnesses, members, staff and public. Todays important conversation is essential to our oversight of the intelligence how the Intelligence Committee is keeping t
Conducting this virtual hearing and compliance with house thelution 965 and regulations for Remote Committee proceedings. This being broadcast live on the website. Wouldve of you, i preferred to hold this meeting in person in washington, d. C. , however, because of the threat are proceeding remotely an order to ensure the safety of our witnesses in the public. Todays important conversation is essential to our oversight of how the Intelligence Committee and nation are working to keep our elections are political discourse from foreign interference. I had hoped it would be a bipartisan discussion. , without reason or justification, our republican colleagues once again have decided to absent themselves from the work of the committee. They willy hope that reconsider this path and join us for future hearings. These hearings and supplemental are integral to our responsibilities in the classified and unclassified row. Pandemic or no pandemic, the American People have a right to expect us to do