Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will defend the Internet giants they built, describing them as U.S. success stories in a fiercely competitive world during a major antitrust hearing on Wednesday.
The unprecedented audience will also feature CEOs Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Google and its parent company Alphabet.
CEOs of four of the world's most powerful companies will testify remotely at the hearing, which takes place less than 100 days before the U.S. election.
Zuckerberg means that the internet giant would not have been successful without American laws that encourage competition, but that internet rules now need updating.
"Facebook is a proudly American company," Zuckerberg said in comments prepared ahead of what will be a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.
"Our history would not have been possible without American laws that foster competition and innovation."
Bezos will paint the online giant as a vibrant American "success" story, while accepting the need for scrutiny.
"I think Amazon should be scrutinized," Bezos said in prepared comments posted online before the hearing.
But he also played a challenging note, saying that "when you look in the mirror, you evaluate the criticism and still believe that you are doing the right thing, no force in the world should be able to move you."
It will be the first time that Bezos testifies before Congress.
But Zuckerberg also acknowledged "concerns about the size and perceived power that technology companies have."
"So I have called for a more active role for governments and regulators and updated rules for the Internet."
The standoff in the House of Representatives comes amid growing concerns over Big Tech's dominance, which has become even more pronounced during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ultimately, I think companies shouldn't be making as many judgments on important issues like harmful content, privacy and electoral integrity on their own," read Zuckerberg's prepared remarks.
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