IT panel seeks LS Speaker’s permission to call Facebook whistleblowers

The Parliamentary standing committee on information technology has sought permission from Speaker Om Birla to have Facebook whistleblowers depose before it as allegations of the company using algorithms, that allowed the amplification of hate speech in India, lands it in controversy, panel chairperson Shashi Tharoor said on Monday.

“The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology did not exist between September 12 & October 12 when it was officially reconstituted. It had to then adopt its agenda, submit it to the Speaker &have it bulletinized before it could convene any meetings,” the Congress MP wrote on Twitter. “This has just happened & with its agenda official, the Committee will hold its first meetings of the new session on Nov16&17.