Parliamentary panel on information technology summons Facebook's over misuse of social media platforms

New Delhi: The parliamentary standing committee on IT has summoned Facebook on September 2 to discuss the issue of alleged misuse of social media platforms basing on the allegations that the firm did not apply hate speech rules on certain BJP politicians. The notification was issued by Secretariat of Lok Sabha when senior member of the committee and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker regarding removal of Shashi Tharoor as the panel’s chairman, alleging that he was using the platform for political agenda. The political slug fest has been on between the two since Tharoor announced that the committee would to hear from Facebook the the article published in Wall Street Journal claiming that Facebook ignored applying hate speech rules against the politicians of BJP. The spat between the two rose to a extent that they sought breach of privilege proceedings against each other.

Besides representatives of Facebook, the committee has asked the representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to also remain present for discussion on “safeguarding citizens’ rights and prevention of misuse of social/online platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space.’ To hear the views of the representatives of Facebook on the very same subject is the agenda of the meeting on September 1. 

For discussion on the issue of internet shutdown the panel has called the representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Administration as well as off ministries of communication and home affairs and of Delhi and Bihar governments on September 1 itself. Information and Broadcasting Ministry, News Broadcasters Association, Press Council of India and Prasar Bharti representatives have also been called for the discussion on ‘Ethical Standards in Media Coverage’ on very same day.