MPs round on ministers over response to proposals on tackling fake news
2 min read
MPs have criticised the Government for failing to take on board swathes of recommendations made as part of a move to tackle the scourge of fake news.
Digital Culture Media and Sport Committee chair Damian Collins said he was “disappointed” ministers had accepted just three proposals from a total of 42 the group had made, while four were thrown out outright.
It comes despite the committee’s interim report warning that the UK faced a democratic crisis around the manipulation of personal data.
The group called on ministers in July to hand a raft of new powers to the Electoral Commission, such as bigger fines, and an increase regulation of Twitter and Facebook.
However in its latest response, the Government rejected proposals for a new tax on social media firms and a mooted change in the rules around political spending online.
The committee also hit out at ministers for not responding to the suggestion of an audit of the advertising market to identify fake social media accounts.
And it accused them of “hiding behind ‘ongoing investigations'” by failing to address its recommendation that the National Crime Agency urgently carries out its own investigation into "malign actors”.
Mr Collins said of the response: “The government’s response to our interim report on disinformation and ‘fake news’ is disappointing and a missed opportunity.
“It uses other ongoing investigations to further delay desperately needed announcements on the ongoing issues of harmful and misleading content being spread through social media.
“We need to see a more coordinated approach across government to combat campaigns of disinformation being organised by Russian agencies seeking to disrupt and undermine our democracy.
“The government’s response gives us no real indication of what action is being taken on this important issue.”
A government spokesman said: “We have considered the committee’s interim report carefully. Our response outlines ongoing work across government to counter disinformation.
“We look forward to reviewing the final report later this year. Our white paper, to be published this winter, will set out a range of proposals focused on making the internet a safer place.”
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