Thank you, Mr. Co-chair.
My questions are to Neil Potts, global policy director. I have two questions.
The first one is that I would like to understand and to know from him and from Facebook, generally, whether or not they understand the principle of “equal arms of government”. It would appear, based on what he said earlier in his opening remarks, that he is prepared and he is willing to speak to us here, and Mr. Zuckerberg will speak to the governments. It shows a.... I do not understand...not realizing the very significant role that we play as parliamentarians in this situation.
My next question is with reference to Speaker Nancy Pelosi's video, as well as to statements made by him with reference to Sri Lanka. He said that the videos would only be taken down if there were physical violence.
Let me just make a statement here. The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia's Facebook accounts have been, whether you want to say “hacked” or “replicated”, and he is now struggling out there to try to inform persons that this is a fake video or a fake account. Why should this be? If it is highlighted as fake, it is fake and it should not be....
Let me read something out of the fake...and here is what it is saying, referring to a grant. I quote:
It's a United Nation grant money for those who need assistance with paying for bills, starting a new project, building homes, school sponsorship, starting a new business and completing an existing ones.
the United nation democratic funds and human service are helping the youth, old, retired and also the disable in the society....
When you put a statement out there like this, this is violence against a certain vulnerable section of our society. It must be taken down. You can't wait until there is physical violence. It's not only physical violence that's violence. If that is the case, then there is no need for abuse when it is gender relations, or otherwise. Violence is violence, whether it is mental or physical.
That is my question to you, sir. Shouldn't these videos, these pages, be taken down right away once it is flagged as fake?