Washington, D.C. – This week Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel testified in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining big tech and the online child sexual exploitation crisis. During his opening remarks, Spiegel reaffirmed his support for the Cooper Davis Act (S. 1080), bipartisan legislation led by Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, according to a media release from the Senator's office.
Named in honor of Kansas teen, Cooper Davis, who died from illicit fentanyl poisoning after a purchase made on social media, this legislation would require social media companies to take a more proactive role against drug dealers preying on America’s youth online.
Mr. Spiegel highlighted the worsening fentanyl crisis in his testimony and stressed the importance of bringing the Cooper Davis Act to the Senate floor for a vote. Ahead of the hearing, Senator Marshall met with Mr. Spiegal to discuss the urgency of passing this legislation. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee last year by a vote of 16 to 5, and is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor.
Other panel witnesses for the hearing included CEOs of TikTok, Meta, X Corp, and Discord. Snap, Inc. is the only social media company to work collaboratively with families of victims, health care stakeholders, law enforcement, and the Biden Administration in advancing the Cooper Davis Act. U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Todd Young (R-IN) are also sponsors of the bill.