European here, I was always confused watching U.S. Senate hearings with social media CEOs having to explain and be almost interrogated and accused of someone’s suicide from supposedly “watching content on the platform”. Why do they need to do that and is it only U.S. thing or does it happen somewhere else?
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Practically it’s because congress has the power of subpoena. So they hold hearings to consult experts or witnesses when discussing an issue. This is meant to inform members whenever bills related to whatever the hearing is about.
So when there is debate about how to further regulate or even ban certain social media platforms the hearings are there ostensibly to get the perspective of the companies involved so they can make a case for themselves.
Though there is an element of theater about it these days but the CEOs participate because it’s easier to go an answer questions (with the help of lawyers) than try to fight a subpoena that would compel them anyway.
Also, anyone might be asked to testify and many do and it’s not that newsworthy but major CEOs are newsworthy.
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