Messaging Apps Face Lawmaker Scrutiny for Spanish Disinformation

A congressional effort to crack down on Spanish language disinformation is expanding to include popular messaging platforms.

Democrats are probing social media companies for disinformation spread on their platforms as analysts warn false messages online are eroding trust in the country’s electoral system, undermining public health efforts, and stoking violence.

Meta Platforms Inc.‘s WhatsApp Inc., Telegram Group Inc., and Signal—encrypted, instant messaging service providers—on Monday heard from 23 Democratic lawmakers seeking information on the companies’ efforts to combat disinformation targeted at Latino communities.

“We have a serious responsibility to ensure that big tech companies and group messaging applications are ...