WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Leaders from Microsoft, Meta, and Google’s parent company Alphabet were on Capitol Hill. They were there to shed light on their effort to combat foreign meddling in the upcoming election. "There are real and serious threats,” said Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith. Just weeks before the election, leaders from Microsoft, Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet are cautioning Americans to be on alert. The tech giants say Russia, Iran and others are ramping up efforts to spread disinformation online. "They're seeking to sew discord among Americans,” said Meta’s President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg. At a hearing, they assured senators they are using new tactics and tools, including AI, to detect and remove posts by foreign actors. "We've removed over 200 hundred networks since 2017,” said Alphabet’s President and Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker. Senators pointed to recent posts that appeared to slip through the cracks. "These look exactly like the Washington Post,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Committee chairman Democratic Senator Mark Warner pushed the tech giants to do more, not just before Election Day, but after, as well. "My gravest concern is over the level of misinformation, disinformation that may come from our adversaries after our polls close,” said Warner. The tech leaders say they're committed to protecting U.S. citizens from foreign influence this election cycle but vowed not to go overboard. Republican Senator Marco Rubio says the companies went too far during covid-19 and ultimately censored American citizens. "There are some people who got their accounts locked out…because they questioned the efficacy of masks,” said Rubio. Notably missing from the discussion was X, formerly known as Twitter, the company declined to attend.