The misuse of social media in the 2016 presidential election has become a major issue in both Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.In recent hearings before the Senate Intelligence Committee, general counsels from several major technology companies were peppered with questions regarding the use of social media ads by Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

The CEOs of these technology companies did not testify, but were instead represented by their silver-tongued, evasive lawyers. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, was busy elsewhere touting the record profits of his company in a conference call. Twitter and Google sent their lawyers.

The CEOs may have chosen not to withstand the heat and pointed questions of members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The glare of the media lights in Washington is,indeed, very bright.

Following months of allegations and suggestions about the Russians, the hearings did cast the spotlight on major social media platforms utilized in the U.S. Facebook alone is used by 68 percent of Americans, according to a 2016 Pew Research Center survey.

One of major objectives of the Intelligence Committee was to ascertain the extent of the Russian incursion in our national election. Lawyers for the tech companies gave vague answers and demonstrated that their companies were just recently taking efforts to better control the ads appearing on their platforms.

Senators wanted to know about the expansiveness of the ads went and how to handle this phenomenon. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) expressed concern between improved oversight of social media ads and the need to guard the freedom of speech. He admitted that the issue is complicated.

Questions were asked about social media audits and the sufficiency of tracking the political ads. The technology companies have quite adequate tools for customers, but apparently not necessarily for government requests.There is a significant disconnect between what these companies can do and what they are willing to commit to do.

There must be more transparency in identifying who is paying for the placement of political ads. Legislation is being promoted to impose regulations similar to those existing for political campaigns. The issue of earnings and responsibilities to U.S. citizens and Congress remain an open question.

These tech companies appear to have no specific political party ties.Previously, the Democrats appeared to be sympathetic to the tech world, and Republicans are now more regulation friendly.

Lobbying by tech companies is substantial in Washington. These lobbying efforts have materialized rather rapidly and are quite adequately funded.

False information on any platform is a problem. It has affected our political life and democracy itself. The Russian purchase of deceptive, divisive ads is an example of the dark side of social media. Hate speech and other free speech issues highlight the responsibility of the tech companies now under scrutiny.

As a result of these hearings, new federal legislation and regulations have already begun. The initial piece of legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate is the “Honest Ads Act,” which seeks to regulate online political advertising. More work must be done, such as requiring social media platforms to identify who pays for political ads, better vetting of ads, and requiring the take down of ads with content that is inappropriate and infringes on constitutionally ensured rights.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sees problems for any mandatory disclosures for Facebook or Twitter ads; however, this dilemma does require action, preferably before the 2018 elections. Is it time to implement similar trust-busting remedies reminiscent of those affecting monopolies in the early 1900’s?How much of a threat does social media pose to the political fabric of America?

Finding workable, appropriate, constitutional solutions for these21st-Century threats is a sticky wicket. But, it must be done.

This matter is both a question of freedom of speech and of national security. It is an opportunity for bipartisanship to begin and for our national government to do what is right for the American people.