In response to a Gizmodo expose that accuses Facebook employees of censoring of conservative news from its trending list, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Commerce Committee, wrote Facebook a letter asking for answers.
“If Facebook presents its Trending Topics section as the result of neutral, objective algorithm but is in fact subjective and filtered to support or suppress particular political viewpoints, Facebook’s assertion that it maintains a ‘platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum,’ misleads the public,” read the statement.
MORE: Facebook Exposed for Censoring Conservative News
Thune is requesting answers regarding Facebook’s procedures for picking trending topics, whether it is investigating its employees’ biases, and stories “injected” into the trending list. Thune’s letter requests this information by May 24th.
Facebook denies the allegations of political bias in how it manages its trending news feature.