Basically no CEOs ever want to testify in front of a congressional committee. There is only downside to such a situation for the company. There is zero upside.

This is not a deeply telling datum. It is a boring an standard one.

While that may be true for regulations/ethics related appearances, this is not true for things such as funding. For example both Elon Musk and Bruno have gone before congress multiple times to discuss private space programs/ contracts and to justify their cases. Admittedly Elon did send Gwynne Shotwell several times but she is still the COO of the company.

More accurately there is risk in talking to the US congress when the topic sounds more like an inquisition than when congress is asking for opinions.

The matter then is why is it a risk for Facebook to discuss the CA issue? Are they worried about a witch hunt or a public ethics execution?

In this case there is user trust to be gained. By refusing to appear in front of congress, mark and facebook has lost a little of my trust.

Did they have any before?

testifying in front of congress is just an opportunity for politicians to win points by kicking you around like a ball. very few people (let alone CEOs) stand to gain anything from it, and corporate counsel is paid to put up with abuse.

> ...my reservations about this congress over and above the average congress...

ugh, come on. it's not like the whole congress votes on how you're to be treated, and the questions you'll be asked. the biggest heels on both sides of the aisle are free to harangue you all they want.

> it's not like the whole congress votes on how you're to be treated

Not the whole Congress, but how exactly do you think procedure and parameters for hearings are set and objections during hearings are resolved? Both the specific personalities in leadership positions and the attitudes of the majority matter a lot.

EDIT: It's true that there is a tradition of providing some semblance of balance in committee process, including hearings, with the majority (not necessarily by party) mainly controlling what items are considered and what hearings are held, and ultimately the outcome; but not only is partisanship greater than in the past, but precisely those traditions have noticeably weakened over the last couple decades and particularly in the current Congress.

> are free to harangue you all they want

Any exec hauled on the carpet is going to want a drink afterwards. That's not the concern.