Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether online content flagged for removal by the Counter Disinformation Unit can include lawful expression.

Preserving freedom of expression is an extremely important principle underpinning the Counter Disinformation Unit’s (CDU) work. The CDU does not monitor political debate and the CDU does not refer any content from journalists, politicians or political parties to social media platforms.

The CDU works closely with the major social media platforms to understand their terms of service and to encourage them to promote authoritative sources of information.

Where the unit encounters content which poses a demonstrable risk to public health, safety or national security and is assessed to breach the platform’s terms of service, content may be referred to the platform concerned for their consideration.

No action is mandated by the Government and it is up to the platform to independently decide whether or not to take any action in line with their terms of service.

A fact sheet providing further information on the work of the CDU can be found here.