Social media companies questioned on tackling misinformation

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation questions executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter about actions they have taken to tackle an infodemic of misinformation about Covid-19.

Metadata

Provider:

UK Parliament

URL:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/sub-committee-on-online-harms-and-disinformation/news/disinformation-covid-19-evide…

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Information

Tags:

Operating systems, Software, Media manipulation, Propaganda techniques, Deception, Psychopathy, Black propaganda, Universal Windows Platform apps, Facebook, Disinformation, Misinformation, RT

Summary

Key Points:

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation questions executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter about actions they have taken to tackle an infodemic of misinformation about Covid-19.
Monika Bickert, Head of Product Policy and Counterterrorism, Facebook
Leslie Miller, Vice-President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, YouTube
Derek Slater, Global Director of Information Policy, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
Nick Pickles, Director of Public Policy Strategy, Twitter
It is the second time that representatives of the social media companies have been called in by the DCMS Sub-committee in its ongoing inquiry into online harms and disinformation following criticism by Chair Julian Knight about a lack of clarity of evidence and further failures to provide adequate answers to follow-up correspondence.
In a week that has seen online reactions to US protests renew the debate about actions to tackle disinformation, MPs will address questions to three senior US-based representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter.
Building on its work about the abundance of online misinformation about Covid-19, the Sub-committee will hear from a doctor at one of Londons busiest hospitals and a paramedic working for NHS 111 about the impact of disinformation on their work on the frontline.