All Sections

View and post jobs in journalism
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Editor's Pick
  • Interviews
  • News
    • Broadcast Journalism
    • Digital Journalism
    • Magazines
    • Media Law
    • National Newspapers
    • People
      • Appointments
      • Obituaries
    • Regional Newspapers
  • Press Gazette Podcast
  • British Journalism Awards
  • Press Gazette Email Newsletter

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
  • Editorial standards
  • About/Contacts
  • Advertise/Partnerships
  • Privacy Policy
Close
[mashshare]
Skip to content
  • Editorial standards
  • About/Contacts
  • Advertise/Partnerships
  • Privacy Policy
All sections

Search

Search pressgazette.co.uk

Close

Press Gazette

Subscribe to our email newsletter Journalism email newsletter
  • News
  • Comment
  • Data
  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Marketing
  • Awards
  • Jobs
  • Partners

Menu

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • National Newspapers
  • Regional Newspapers
  • Digital Journalism
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Media Law
  • Magazines
  • Wires and Agencies
  • Obituaries
  • News
  • Comment/Analysis
  • Jobs
  • British Journalism Awards

In the news

  • Platforms
  • Publishers
  • Interviews
  • Marketing
Close
Only the FT is immune from Fleet Street royal wedding fever as Clarence House announces Prince Harry engagement on Twitter
More than one in ten staff at regional press group Archant cut in 2017
November 28, 2017
  • Digital Journalism
  •    
  • News
  •    
  • Social media
  •    

Facebook and Twitter to respond to UK fake news inquiry amid concerns of foreign interference in UK politics

By Freddy Mayhew Twitter

Share this

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
Comments
2

Facebook and Twitter have said they will respond to the parliamentary inquiry into fake news as part of a wider response to the Electoral Commission on the issue of Russian interference in UK politics.

Chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Damian Collins MP, who is leading the fake news inquiry had contacted both social media networks in recent weeks.

Timeline

  • March 5, 2021

    Robert Thomson: News Corp's Google deal will give journalism industry 'second wind'

  • March 4, 2021

    Google and Facebook's deals with publishers: What we know so far

  • March 4, 2021

    Why a fair licensing deal would see Google and Facebook pay news industry $2bn+ a year

It followed fresh revelations at congressional hearings held last month about Russian meddling in last year’s US presidential elections, with some foreign accounts also suspected of interfering in Britain’s Brexit vote.

Collins today shared the responses to his letters from both web giants.

Policy director Simon Milner said Facebook was “now considering how we can best respond to the Electoral Commission’s request for information” with the responses expected by the second week of December.

He added: “Given that your letter is about the same issue, we will share our response to Electoral Commission with you.”

Milner said Facebook “remained committed” to assisting the committee’s “wider inquiry into ‘fake news’”.

Twitter’s head of public policy Nick Pickles told Collins: “We are currently undertaking investigations into these questions and intend to share our findings in the coming weeks.”

He added: “It is important to note that not all automated accounts are bad, whether posting air quality sensor readings or posting details of Wikipedia edits, while not all high activity accounts are bots.

“Equally, given Twitter’s central control – users choosing to follow or unfollow an account to curate what appears in their timeline- is a robust defence against low-quality automated accounts.

“We do not underestimate the importance or complexity of these issues.”

In his letter, Pickles noted media coverage highlighting that real Twitter users were named as “bots” in research, which he said reinforced the risks of “limited data being used to attribute activity”.

“We at Twitter are mindful of the implications of a person being falsely accused of being a bot or associated with state sponsored election interference, and take very seriously our obligations to protect user privacy and safety,” he said.

“We recognise these issues and are already engaged in dialogue with academics and think tanks around the world, including those in the UK, to discuss potential collaboration and to explore where our own efforts can be better shared without jeopardizing their effectiveness or user privacy.”

Picture: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

SIGN UP HERE FOR

MEDIA MONITOR

Press Gazette's weekly email providing strategic insight into the future of the media

Subscribe

Related Stories

  • Facebook's removal of hundreds of fake pages targeting UK politics just 'tip of the iceberg', says fake news inquiry chairman
  • Facebook tells UK fake news inquiry it will expand probe into Russian interference in Brexit vote
  • Culture Committee chairman says Twitter response to 'fake news' inquiry probe 'completely inadequate'
  • The inside story of the other Milly Dowler scoop

Explore these topics

  • Facebook
  • Fake news
  • Twitter
Browse, search and add journalism jobs
Comments

2 thoughts on “Facebook and Twitter to respond to UK fake news inquiry amid concerns of foreign interference in UK politics”

  1. lucky patcher says:
    December 6, 2017 at 6:32 am

    Your site has a lot of useful information for myself. I visit regularly. Hope to have more quality items.

    Reply
  2. lucy says:
    December 1, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    I am so delighted to be here and to read this perfect post. Thanks for share this with us.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More content

Post a job on Press Gazette

Most Popular

  1. Roy Greenslade IRA Roy Greenslade and IRA: Northern Ireland coverage scrutinised as Guardian apologises
  2. GB News briefing: Latest appointments news as channel gears up for launch
  3. Noel Fielding among 13 to settle News Group Newspapers phone hacking claims
  4. Meghan Mail appeal refused Mail on Sunday must publish front page statement on Meghan copyright win, judge rules
  5. Roy Greenslade Greenslade responds to outrage over IRA views: “I did nothing more than scores of journalists”

Latest Jobs

  • Editor (Maternity Cover), Place North West
  • Environment Impact Producer, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
  • Global Health Impact Producer, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
More than one in ten staff at regional press group Archant cut in 2017

© copyright 2021 Press Gazette Ltd. Made in Taiwan.