Facebook called to reform its “digital gangster” status

Democracy is at risk from the malicious and relentless spread of fake news and targeted misinformation of users’ data, a UK Parliamentary report has concluded.

Facebook has used its digital dominance to rival and curb its competition in breach of data protection laws and ethical business practices, according to findings from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee’s 18-month investigation.

It found that the practices of Facebook target citizens using the social media platform with “dark adverts” which risk democracy.

The report, which focussed on the business practices of Facebook before and after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, includes proposals for a new Code of Ethics to be overseen by an independent regulator with the power to launch legal action.

Warning of the prowess and market dominance Facebook has to rival and…