House panel calls Facebook execs on Sept 2

The parliamentary standing committee on information and technology has summoned representatives of social media company Facebook to appear before it on September 2 to present their views on the issue of safeguarding citizens’ rights and prevention of misuse of social and online news media . The summons come in the backdrop of the controversy that has erupted after a Wall Street Journal report that showed that Facebook’s top lobbyist in India recommended against taking down hate speech posts of a BJP leader on the ground that this could spoil the media company’s relationship with the government.

The committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has also summoned representatives of the ministry of communications (department of telecommunications), ministry of home affairs and the representatives of the state of Bihar, union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and union territory of Delhi on September 1 to discuss the subject of suspension of telecom services/ internet and its impact. On the same day it will also hear the views of the representatives of news broadcasters Association, press Council of India and Prasar Bharati on the subject of ethical standards in media coverage.