Committee to call in social media companies on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

Tuesday 24 Nov 2020 @ 11:38
Parliamentary Committees and Public Enquiries

The use of online misinformation about the development of vaccines to tackle COVID-19 will be considered by the DCMS Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation in a session to take place next month.

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It will focus on ‘anti-vax’ content carried on social media platforms with Google, Facebook and Twitter invited to attend. Social media companies will be asked about action to remove harmful content and counter misinformation.

The DCMS Committee has repeatedly pressed the Government on delays to the introduction of legislation to tackle online harms.

DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP yesterday said:

“It is very clear that there is a small window of opportunity to crack down now on misinformation put out there about vaccines that are intended to halt the spread of COVID-19.

“We want to talk to Google, Facebook and Twitter to find out how they are working to combat the presence of ‘anti-vax’ content on their platforms.

“This should also be a wake-up call to government that its continued delay to introduce legislation to tackle online harms could have real and lasting consequences.”

Further information

Channel website: http://www.parliament.uk/

Original article link: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/132812/committee-to-call-in-social-media-companies-on-covid19-vaccine-misinformation/

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