Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 July 2025
Letter, dated 16 July 2025 from Mr Speaker to Meta, requesting further information following the evidence session on 9 July 2025
From: Speaker's Conference (2024)
Inquiry: Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections
Summary
The Speaker writes to Meta on behalf of the Speaker's Conference, seeking detailed responses to questions arising from Meta's evidence session on 9 July 2025. The letter requests information on Online Safety Act compliance, phase three implementation preparedness, potential public health campaigns against MP abuse, content moderation tools, proactive monitoring arrangements, and changes to misogynistic content policies since December 2024.
Key findings
- Meta is asked to detail actions taken to comply with Online Safety Act requirements and their impact on user experience
- The Conference is exploring a public health-style campaign to counter the normalisation of MP abuse and seeks Meta's advice on platform-specific persuasiveness
- Questions raised about whether Facebook and Instagram have automatic prompts warning users before posting harmful material
- Inquiry into whether Meta conducts proactive monitoring of MPs' profiles year-round and whether election-period safeguards extend to by-elections
- Request for information on changes to Meta's misogynistic content policy since December 2024
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Meta, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP (Speaker), Megan Thomas (Public Affairs Manager, Meta UK), Speaker's Conference
Notable line
“The Conference is considering the merits of a public health style campaign targeting the impression that abuse of MPs is acceptable”
Key Quotes
“What actions has Meta taken to comply with the requirements of the Online Safety Act and what impact have these actions had on users' experience of your platforms?”
“The Conference is considering the merits of a public health style campaign targeting the impression that abuse of MPs is acceptable, and whether it could be delivered through social media platforms: how could a campaign like this be most persuasive for Meta's users?”
“Does proactive monitoring of MPs' profiles occur outside elections and do the arrangements Meta have in place for elections also apply for by-elections?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗