Facebook latest: Social media giant agrees to meeting with SA Parliament

The Communications and Digital Technologies Committee in South Africa’s Parliament has confirmed that representatives from social media giant Facebook will meet with them later this month. 

This after an invitation was sent to the company in February 2021 by the Democratic Alliance (DA), who are seeking insight into how the industry plans to tackle the spread of misinformation and fake news in SA. 

Facebook to meet with Parliament on 25 May

Phumzile Van Damme, the DA’s Member of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, said in a statement on Wednesday that in addition to the meeting set up with Facebook and Parliament on 25 May, other invites have been extended to fellow industry giants Twitter and Google. 

“The DA has been at the forefront of tackling the issue of disinformation and matters related to the digital transformation of South Africa and we are pleased that the committee is giving the matter the importance it deserves,” she said. 

According to Van Damme, Facebook’s agreement to participate in the meeting is “historic and a source of pride for South Africa as a first in Africa”, adding that SA is one of a few countries in the world to successfully secure a meeting with Facebook. 

“No doubt, the knowledge of the work the DA did in holding Bell Pottinger accountable provided an indication of the seriousness the party takes matters relating to disinformation,” she said. 

What’s on the agenda? 

Van Damme commended Facebook for agreeing to the meeting which she said the party hopes will be “constructive” in terms of rooting out the spread of fake news ahead of critical Local Government Elections coming up later this year. 

“The reason for inviting Facebook was with the view of ascertaining what steps the tech giant will be taking in tackling harmful misinformation, particularly as we inch towards the 2021 Local Government Election. Facebook often tailors plans for countries ahead of elections to guard against harmful misinformation. We would like to see the same done for South Africa,” she said, adding that the protection of the private data of South African users of Facebook-owned platforms will also be on the agenda. 

She said that the meeting will also involve initial discussions surrounding the possibility of Facebook paying South African media houses for carrying their content “as was recently successfully implemented in Australia”.

“The aim of discussions with Facebook will be to ensure that the interests of the people of South Africa are protected as well as upholding the constitutional right to freedom of speech. We will stand in opposition to any proposals that would curtail the right of South Africans to share their thoughts and opinions that fall under protected freedom of speech.”