GOP Sens. Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley demand FTC look into social media companies' content curation methods

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who have made no secret of their disdain for the industry, are continuing to go after tech companies.

The two lawmakers on Monday sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission demanding the agency investigate how Facebook, Google, and Twitter decide what content appears on their social media platforms, Bloomberg reports.

"They control the ads we see, the news we read, and the information we digest," the Republicans wrote in the letter. "And they actively censor some content and amplify other content based on algorithms and intentional decisions that are completely nontransparent."

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The request is reportedly significant, but not earth-shattering.

Still, the two senators are feeling the heat, especially from libertarians, for the letter, as Cruz has in the past. The senators' stance remains caught in what feels like a strange middle ground for the Republican party, as they're choosing between increasing regulations on business and championing free speech for conservatives — though its clear Cruz and Hawley prioritize the latter, especially at a crucial political moment.

A Senate panel will hold a hearing on social media bias on Tuesday that will feature testimony from a top Google executive.