Science, Innovation and Technology Committee comments on evidence session with TikTok, Meta and X

The session saw MPs question senior representatives of the social media platforms on a range of topics, including whether their algorithms may spread misleading content and how they moderate this content.  

Chair comment

Reacting to the evidence session, the chair of the committee, Chi Onwurah MP, said:  

“This evidence session was an opportunity for social media companies to provide answers on whether the algorithms these platforms use encourage the spread of harmful and misleading content online, and how they moderate this content.  

“We had hoped that the witnesses would be able to provide clarity on these points. Members read out several deeply offensive social media posts – including threats against MPs – asking X’s representative to explain why these remained online.  

“Unfortunately, we were left frustrated by the platforms’ failure to give a clear and unambiguous response to questions including how the Online Safety Act would have affected their response to the riots, how their revenues were affected by the riots and why certain social media posts have been allowed to remain online.”  

Further information

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