Comment on MP's Facebook report

Feb. 18, 2019

NEWS FROM OPEN KNOWLEDGE INTERNATIONAL

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE

Facebook needs stricter regulation to end the spread of ‘fake news’, the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has concluded. Responding, Catherine Stihler, chief executive of Open Knowledge International, said:

“This is a significant in-depth report that must be given serious consideration. “We live in a world where the acceptance of basic facts is under threat, with many expert views dismissed and ‘fake news’ populating social media. “To help combat the spread of disinformation, we need to empower people to build, share and reuse their own data and content freely and open - so that it becomes open knowledge. “Facebook needs to increase its transparency so that it can rebuild trust in its platform.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

More information: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology­47255380

Contact: Alan Roden at [email protected] or 07753 904 531