Watchdog ‘must now investigate Facebook’s links to Government’
FACEBOOK has been criticised for its lobbying of the Government amid calls that training and tips it provides to ministers be investigated by the political standards watchdog.
It comes as the Government remained silent about which ministers, former ministers and special advisers have received training from the company to understand demographic data and tap in to online communities.
Fianna Fail communications spokesperson Timmy Dooley said he will call on the Oireachtas Communications Committee to invite the social media giants to Leinster House to explain its role in coaching ministers and advisers.
He said the company was “not demonstrating a corporate responsibility” and added the lobbying must be looked at by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo). It comes after a Sunday
Independent investigation uncovered emails between Facebook and the Department of the Taoiseach inviting former junior minister Dara Murphy to the company’s Dublin headquarters to learn how to boost his profile among constituents and get an analysis of how well he interacts with voters.
The emails also showed other ministers had previously availed of the training. However, the Government and Facebook have both declined to list the ministers involved.
“I think it is fair to say that the activity in this regard constitutes lobbying,” said Mr Dooley.
“The selective and ad hoc nature of the way in which Facebook has targeted certain politicians seems to me to fall within the definition of lobbying. Therefore they should register these activities with Sipo.”
Records on the lobbying register seen by the Sunday Independent show Facebook contacted Mr Murphy and officials in the Department to discuss new German laws aimed at reducing harmful online content.
However, the record makes no reference to the fact Mr Murphy and his advisers were offered expert Facebook training.
The company has a specialist politics and government team that works with groups and political parties during campaigns. It has boasted that it helped the Scottish National Party in “triggering a landslide” during the 2015 general election.
“I think it is a matter for Sipo to determine but there is a register for lobbying and I would hope that Facebook complied with that, because offering to train somebody has to constitute lobbying,” said Mr Dooley.
“There are rules that must be observed. I will request that Facebook is asked to come before the committee to outline their position on this.”
The Sunday Independent contacted the Department of Taoiseach last week for details of ministers who received training from Facebook but officials failed to respond.
Facebook was also asked what officials received training. It said it complies with legislation and standards relating to interactions with Government and registers lobbying in accordance with the Regulation of Lobbying Act.
A Facebook spokeswoman said the company works with politicians who use social media to communicate with constituents and interact with voters.