Team, did you catch my op-ed with my colleague Ken Buck in CNBC last week?

As the Chair and ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, we have been investigating Facebook’s monopolistic behavior and its effects on public safety and our democracy.

These revelations detailed by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen in her testimony last week confirm what we have known for years — like any monopolistic company, Facebook will always prioritize growth and profit over public safety and moral responsibility.

As Rep. Buck and I write, nearly four years ago, Facebook’s former head of growth said that “we have created tools that are ripping apart the social fabric of how society works . . . No civil discourse, no cooperation; misinformation, mistruth.”

The implications of Facebook’s unbridled power over our democracy are devastating. But this outcome is not inevitable — it is a policy choice.

Without competition or accountability, tech monopolies like Facebook have no incentive to change, making the Internet less safe.

Congress can act on this, but we’re up against an army of lobbyists and corporate money from Silicon Valley. Here on Team Cicilline, we don’t take corporate PAC money, and we don’t have an army of lobbyists. We have something better: grassroots donors like you. If you’re able, I hope you’ll consider making a contribution to help us fight for accountability for Facebook.

These powerful corporations are dangerous enemies, but I know that with your help, friends, we can take action to protect the internet, and our democracy, from profit-hungry Facebook.

Thank you,

– David Cicilline