During a congressional hearing before the joint Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) veered off-course from Facebook’s role in helping spread Russian propaganda during the 2016 presidential election, as well as privacy concerns over its data collection practices, and instead focused on what he complained was the company’s liberal bias.
The hearing with Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg was convened to discuss “Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data” and purportedly intended to hone in on how the company collects and protect users’ data.
Instead of focusing on the national security implications of Facebook’s Role in spreading Russian propaganda, Cruz took Zuckeberg to task for, among other things, no sufficiently promoting Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day on the platform.
Naturally, the Internet piled on Cruz. Read some of the best responses below:
Watching Ted Cruz go back and forth with Mark Zuckerberg is a special kind of hell.— Max Parker (@Max Parker) 1523391681.0
Cruz: I don’t understand why the crops die if you don’t log in—people have lives Zuckerberg: I’m sorry, Ted, but F… https://t.co/teZSMn13VF— Samantha Ruddy (@Samantha Ruddy) 1523392040.0
OMG, Ted Cruz just dragged Zuckerberg for blocking Diamond & Silk's page. Definitely a national priority!— Joshua Green (@Joshua Green) 1523391617.0
It seemed like Ted Cruz was in a different hearing than Zuckerberg and everyone else. One where the fate of Chick-F… https://t.co/8qN3cbCs17— Aimee Picchi (@Aimee Picchi) 1523392052.0
Reminder: all the Cambridge Analytica Data was misappropriated for the Ted Cruz campaign. He’s on the Judiciary Com… https://t.co/2oosH9nmzG— nxthompson (@nxthompson) 1523358046.0
Cruz focusing on bias a nifty way to avoid talking about his 2016 campaign using Cambridge— Nick Corasaniti (@Nick Corasaniti) 1523391794.0
ted cruz wants to know why Chick Fil A Appreciation Day didn't appear more prominently in people's feeds— Alexandra Petri (@Alexandra Petri) 1523391640.0
I never know what's real and fake anymore. Everything is stupid. https://t.co/pcxF2hi0LZ— Emily C. Singer (@Emily C. Singer) 1523391739.0
Here's Ted Cruz outraged that Facebook "shut down Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." https://t.co/s9QtSuI3Tu— Jennifer Bendery (@Jennifer Bendery) 1523391569.0
*checks into Zuckerberg hearing* Ted Cruz is complaining that Facebook censors Nazis *checks out of Zuckerberg hearing*— Ben Werdmuller (@Ben Werdmuller) 1523392226.0
@zachdcarter you love ted cruz— Ashley Feinberg (@Ashley Feinberg) 1523392070.0
other senators: *valid and pertinent questions* ted cruz: THE BAD MAN TAKE DOWN CHIK-FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY MEMES… https://t.co/uqdRawT3nG— Jill Gutowitz (@Jill Gutowitz) 1523392068.0
Ted Cruz makes Zuck look likable.— Jeff Elder (@Jeff Elder) 1523392057.0
ok so far, i think there were some good questions. mark isn't afraid. ted cruz is a lunatic as always.— drew olanoff (@drew olanoff) 1523391990.0
Ted Cruz’s line of questioning was the first time I started to side with Zuck this whole hearing.— Rachel King (@Rachel King) 1523391977.0
Cruz: I'm especially concerned by Facebook's ability to expose decades old unsolved murders... Zuck: We don't do t… https://t.co/EmWm3XoyNi— Steve King (@Steve King) 1523391985.0
@wbm312 Cruz never fails to give new reasons to dislike him. It’s an impressive ability.— Adam Caudill (@Adam Caudill) 1523391895.0
"HOW MANY PURE REPUBLICAN HANDS WERE INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS 5 DOLLAR FOOTLONG?!?!"- Ted Cruz ordering a sandwich at Subway— The Levine Machine (@The Levine Machine) 1523391889.0
Ted Cruz said Planned Parenthood! DRINK! #ZuckerbergTestimony— Renee Bracey Sherman (@Renee Bracey Sherman) 1523391838.0
Ted Cruz to Zuckerberg: Why won't you accept my friend request?— Svengirlie (@Svengirlie) 1523391823.0
Ted Cruz is such a Breitbart shill.— Violet Blue® (@Violet Blue®) 1523391787.0
ted cruz is such an unfathomable black hole of charisma he can make anyone seem relatively likable— jake (@jake) 1523391772.0
Ted Cruz really just has one of the worst public personas in America.— Jamal Simmons (@Jamal Simmons) 1523391796.0
