2nd Report – Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms
Select Committee
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
HC 441
11 July 2025
Recommendations
1 results
15
Acknowledged
Commission independent research into effective methods for platforms to address misinformation.
Recommendation
In line with our Principle 1 of tackling amplified misinformation, the government should compel platforms to put in place minimum standards for addressing the spread of misleading content online. More information is needed on the merits of different approaches to …
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Government Response Summary
The government shares concerns about misleading content and agrees more evidence is needed to assess different approaches, stating it is looking to build its evidence base. It mentions past initiatives and a future framework under the Data (Use and Access) Act to enable independent researchers to access online safety data, but does not commit to commissioning the specific research project.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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Conclusions (6) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
In the course of this inquiry, we identified five key principles that we believe are crucial for regulation of social media and related technologies: 1) Public safety: Algorithmically accelerated misinformation is a danger that companies and government need to address—the government and platform companies should work together to protect the …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's principles and the challenges of misinformation, outlining various legislative and non-legislative measures, including the Online Safety Act 2023 and ongoing media literacy efforts, to address these issues while balancing free expression.
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Internet users are exposed to large volumes of harmful and misleading content which can deceive, damage mental health, normalise extremist views, undermine democracy, and fuel violence. We are concerned by the evidence that recommendation algorithms—integral to the advertisement- and engagement-driven business models of social media companies—play a role in this. …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the committee's concerns about harmful online content and algorithms, outlining existing legislative and non-legislative measures such as the Online Safety Act 2023 and efforts to enhance media literacy.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The UK government—like its counterparts around the world—is facing the challenge of attempting to regulate hugely powerful technology companies that operate across the world, providing technologies that transform societies, with bigger budgets than many countries. It is essential that their impact on our society be understood, effectively scrutinised and, where …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's report, its examination of challenges, and the importance of public safety, accountability, and transparency, while also recognizing the challenges posed by misinformation.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We are concerned by disjointed approaches from platforms to false and harmful content; in particular by recent moves from X and Meta to water down their Terms of Service and approach to content moderation. While there are merits to crowd-sourcing models of context provision and fact-checking—as part of a wider …
Government Response Summary
The government shares the committee's concerns regarding amplified misleading content and agrees more evidence is needed, stating it is looking to build its evidence base and monitoring changes, while also mentioning a future framework for researchers to access online safety data.
22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, with use of technology such as bots and AI, put UK citizens at risk. The possibility that some of the divisive messages and deceptive content spread by users—and amplified by algorithms—last summer were part of such an influence operation is deeply concerning. In order to …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the risk of foreign interference and states it is working to better understand indicators for platforms to detect it, while also continuing to engage with experts. They note existing Codes of Practice contain measures applicable to illegal foreign interference, but do not specifically commit to collaborating with platforms to identify and track disinformation actors as requested.
32
Conclusion
Acknowledged
In particular, we were concerned by evidence that Google may have helped to monetise misinformation relating to the attacks, contributing to the violence. This is unacceptable, and is just one example of a much wider problem with the digital advertising industry. We are concerned that Google was seemingly unaware of …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the concern about online misinformation and its potential for real-world impact, stating its commitment to a safer online world and urging providers to counter its spread. It highlights that the Online Safety Act takes a proportionate approach by focusing on illegal content and that which is harmful to children, without committing to new specific actions regarding monetization of other harmful content or transparency from platforms like Google.