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Watch Live: Big Tech Bosses Face Off With Congress. How Much Power Is Too Much Power?

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This story is developing and will be updated throughout the day.

If there is an area where some Democrats and Republicans can find some common ground in these divisive days, may be the extraordinary power and reach of big tech companies and social media giants.

On Wednesday, some of the biggest tech giants, to include Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg; Amazon’s Jeff Bezos; and Google’s Sudar Pichai are squaring off with members of Congress in a highly anticipated antitrust subcommittee hearing.

Their testimony is crucial. And they answers they give to Congressional lawmakers will have to keep opponents in both political parties satisfied. The stakes are high, as members of Congress and the public have become more concerned about civil liberties and the partisan behavior of companies that once promised to be platforms for free thought.

Chairman David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat ,has been leading an investigation into the tech giants for more than a year. He said “any single action by one of these companies can affect hundreds of millions of us in profound and lasting ways…Simply put: They have too much power.”

Cicilline made that comment in his opening statement and as the hearing goes on it’s easy to gauge why as the powerful tech bosses discuss the extensive role their companies now play in the lives of everyday Americans, from food delivery, medical necessities, as well as privacy issues that are cause for concern with modern technologies.

Watch the hearing live:

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The Tate Brothers and Associates Face Human Trafficking Charges in Romania

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In a recent development, the Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, along with two associates, find themselves at the center of a high-profile case involving human trafficking allegations.

The charges leveled against them indicate the formation of an organized criminal group in 2021 with the intent to carry out human trafficking operations not only in Romania but also in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to the BBC.

The investigation, which led to their arrest in December last year, has culminated in an indictment filed with the Bucharest court. According to the indictment, the Tate brothers are accused of luring their victims with false promises of love and marriage. Seven individuals have been identified as alleged victims, who were later coerced and subjected to a harrowing ordeal.

Prosecutors contend that the victims were taken to locations in Ilfov county, Romania, where they faced constant surveillance, intimidation, and control. The defendants allegedly forced the victims into debt and coerced them into participating in pornographic activities, with the explicit material subsequently shared on social media platforms. Shockingly, one of the defendants is accused of raping a woman on two occasions in March 2022, further amplifying the gravity of the charges.

While the trial is not expected to commence immediately, as a Romanian judge is granted 60 days to inspect the case files, it is anticipated to be a protracted legal battle. The complexity of the case and the severity of the charges will undoubtedly result in a lengthy trial process, with several years potentially passing before a verdict is reached.

Representatives for the Tate brothers released a statement acknowledging the unsurprising nature of the news but maintaining their belief in their innocence.

As reported by the BBC, the Tate brothers media team stared, “While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.”

They expressed their eagerness to present a comprehensive body of evidence meticulously collected over time, which they believe will substantiate their claims of innocence and restore their tarnished reputation.

However, it should be noted that additional charges, such as money laundering and trafficking of minors, are still under investigation. If evidence is uncovered to support these allegations, a separate indictment could be filed, further complicating the legal proceedings for the defendants.

Andrew Tate, who gained notoriety through his participation in the reality television show Big Brother, has a controversial past, having been removed from the show in 2016 following a video that appeared to depict him assaulting a woman.

Despite subsequent bans on social media platforms due to his contentious statements, he has managed to amass a following, particularly among young men, by promoting an ostentatious and hyper-masculine lifestyle.

As the case unfolds, public attention will undoubtedly be drawn to the trial, with many eagerly awaiting the outcome and hoping for justice to be served for the alleged victims. The complex web of charges and the high-profile nature of the defendants ensure that this trial will be closely monitored and scrutinized by the media and the public alike.

Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!

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