Misinformation

Committee Chair

• The Chair of the Committee, Lord Puttnam said: "We are living through a time in which trust is collapsing.
• People no longer have faith that they can rely on the information they receive or believe what they are told.
• "Part of the reason for the decline in trust is the unchecked power of digital platforms.
• "We've seen clear evidence of this in recent months through a dangerous rise of misinformation about COVID-19.
• That must stop it is time for the Government to get a grip of this issue.
• People no longer have faith that they can rely on the information they receive or believe what they are told.
• We heard that on the current schedule the legislation may not be in place until 2024.

Recommendations

Publish draft Online Harms Bill now

Regulate political advertising

Introduce a digital ombudsman

• 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.

• During times of crisis and stress, misinformation spreads more quickly than everand can have sometimes fatal consequences if people accept it as truth.
• States, cities, counties and towns need a way to securely, quickly and reliably communicate with the public to not only quell fears but direct their attention to accurate information.
• Sending out reliable updates is only one facet of what states and communities need to do to effectively connect with and serve their residents.
• Collecting real-time data from the public helps better protect both them and first responders and helps public health officials better understand the trends in their communities.

• Mr Borrell will answer questions from members of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) on the report and its publication.
• COVID-19-related disinformation, propaganda and other activitiesThe report notes a proliferation of misinformation, disinformation incidents, and other forms of manipulation and distortions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• MEPs also called on social media companies to proactively take the necessary measures to stop disinformation and hate speech related to the coronavirus.
• More information

  Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, journalists are strongly advised to follow the meeting online.