Facebook chief gets humiliating dressing down like a naughty schoolboy by furious MP in Commons committee
Labour MP Helen Jones blasted the firm's 'less than helpful' behaviour while warning the exec 'you do not play games with the House of Commons'
A FURIOUS MP treated a Facebook exec like a naughty school boy during an astonishing dressing down during a select committee hearing.
Labour's Helen Jones blasted Karim Palant, who is the social media giant’s UK public policy manager, in a humiliating tirade.
She slammed the California-based tech firm’s “less than helpful” behaviour towards the select committee.
The MP for Warrington North told the Facebook executive “you do not play games with the House of Commons.”
Palant was grilled along with bosses from Twitter and Google about what tech companies are doing to tackle abuse and extremism online.
The Facebook chief sat in stunned silence as Jones blasted Facebook for allegedly treating the democratic process with contempt.
She said: “We were suddenly told that the member of staff who was coming had gone on annual leave – something which you will understand we treat with some scepticism given the circumstances.
"I am also aware that your company's behaviour to other select committees in this House has been less than helpful, taking a long time to send them information they requested, changing witnesses and so on.
"I want to make it very clear that your company will not be able to avoid democratic scrutiny, it is not acceptable to try and disrupt a committee's inquiry – and that you do not dictate the terms of engagement, elected members do.”
Jones continued: “If we feel we do not have enough time to question you this afternoon then we will recall you and if necessary we will issue a summons.
"You have given the impression that your company does not feel it has to be scrutinised and, frankly, that it has something to hide. In doing so, you have done them no service at all.
"Young men in your company may play games; you do not play games with the House of Commons.
"I hope I have made that entirely clear and that we don't run up against this behaviour again.”
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