https://shift.newco.co/the-internet-giants-should-demand-regulation-not-duck-it-1274fb58948c

When books are written about the role played by technology companies in our national dialog, the events about to unfold in Washington this week will likely play a starring role. For the past month, communications, policy, and legal executives at Twitter, Facebook and Google have been prepping for this week’s testimony, where each company will be asked by a wary Congress what role it’s played in the corruption of our political system. If it goes well, there won’t be a second act. If it goes poorly, an entire nation could well turn against its own Internet darlings.

These hearings are extensively choreographed public set pieces — each company has already had private meetings with Congressional staff, and neither side expects fireworks. However, much remains on the line. The testimony will be aired live. There won’t be much of a television audience, but every executive up for Congressional grilling knows that if they screw up, they could become the butt of widely viral memes. After all, they built the platforms which enable our shared culture these days. And that’s pretty much what’s on trial this week — our culture, and how we share it. Then again, each company is sending their general counsel, not their CEO. So the chances of something going terribly wrong are relatively low.