Facebook’s ‘like abusive partner’

FACEBOOK was yesterday accused of being in an ‘abusive relationship’ with its users by MPs calling for regulation.

The culture, media and sport select committee told executives at Facebook, Twitter and Google that they have opened a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of social problems and have become so powerful, it is ‘time for rules’ to keep them in check.

Labour MP Jo Stevens said there was a ‘power imbalance’ as Facebook controlled what people see, adding: ‘[It] reminds me of an abusive relationship where there is coercive control going on.’ Discussing the spread of child sex abuse images on the site, Tory Rebecca Pow said: ‘It’s time for rules that set out your roles and responsibilities because all of this is affecting our society.’

The accusations came during a tense, four-hour grilling in Washington DC – the first select committee hearing to be held overseas – with MPs becoming exasperated at the tech giants repeatedly batting away questions.