Google snubs Senate hearings on election meddling

Facebook and Twitter executives are testifying in attempt to assure lawmakers they will protect midterm elections from foreign interference

Executives from Facebook and Twitter testified before Congress on Wednesday in their latest attempt to assure lawmakers that they are capable of protecting November's midterm elections from foreign interference - but the loudest message may have come from Google, which was represented by an empty chair.

"The era of the wild west in social media is coming to an end," warned Senator Mark Warner, the vice-chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, in his opening remarks on Wednesday morning. "Where we go from here now is an open question."