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The DCMS Sub-committee is demanding that social media companies return to give evidence after failing to provide adequate answers about how they are tackling false narratives about Covid-19.

• Facebook, Google and Twitter responses to Committee
• Letter from Chair to Facebook, Google and Twitter
• Inquiry: Online Harms and Disinformation
• Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation

Representatives from Twitter, Facebook and Google were lambasted for a lack of “clarity and openness” by DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight at a hearing last month. Follow-up questions posed to the three organisations in writing have failed to produce clearer answers.

Chair's comments

DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said:

“We were very disappointed by the standard of evidence given by all three social media companies, given the damage that can be done by the deliberate spreading of false information about Covid-19 and the need to tackle it urgently.

“The failures by Twitter, Facebook and Google to give adequate answers in writing to our outstanding questions have left me with no alternative but to recall them to Parliament.

“This time we expect the companies to demonstrate the importance they attach to this issue by sending senior executives who have knowledge of their policies and can be held accountable for them.”

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees