Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential contribution of a digital inclusion strategy to (a) stopping the spread of misinformation and (b) increasing public trust in social media.

Digital inclusion is a key priority for the government and it is shocking that the previous government’s out-of-date digital inclusion strategy was published a full decade ago, despite clear evidence that digital exclusion limits economic growth and harms individuals’ chances to study, work and participate fully in society and the modern economy.

Alongside the duties the Online Safety Act places on social media platforms to minimise harmful content, including illegal disinformation, we need to enhance media literacy, so that users are more resilient online. Part of having the requisite skills to navigate the online world safely is the ability to engage critically with misleading content.