Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Digital and Culture on 29 November 2016 (53857) that they are "considering the implications of the dissemination of fake news on social media sites", what assessment they have made of whether fake news stories generated online through social media are more widely believed than fake news stories in the mainstream media; and, if they are not more widely believed, why they are taking steps to counteract fake news on social media.

There are existing mechanisms in place to address inaccurate news in the mainstream media including requirements in the Broadcasting Code for television and radio programmes and requirements in the Editors' Code of Practice for publishers who are members of a self-regulator.

The Minister for Digital and Culture will shortly be sending invitations to select organisations to attend a discussion on fake news.