'Call their bluff': Shut down social media platforms, ex-Facebook adviser urges

By Catharine Tunney, Peter Zimonjic · CBC News

International committee of MPs issues second summons for Facebook's Zuckerberg, Sandberg after no-show

Image: Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press

Facebook investor and venture capitalist Roger McNamee, right, addresses a panel discussion on Facebook Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. McNamee told a committee hearing in Ottawa today that social media platforms should be shut down until they can be reformed.

A former Facebook adviser is urging governments around the world to shut down social media platforms until they can be reformed.

"If your goals are to protect democracy and personal liberty, you have to be bold. You have to force a radical transformation of the business model of internet platforms," venture capitalist Roger McNamee told the House of Commons privacy and ethics committee Tuesday morning.

"At the end of the day, though, the most effective path to reform would be to shut down the platforms at least temporarily. …. Any country can go first. The platforms have left you no choice. The time has come to call their bluff."

McNamee's comments came as an international committee of MPs in Ottawa renewed their summons for Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg and company COO Sheryl Sandberg to appear and give evidence before them. Both ignored the first summons, choosing to send company representatives in their place.

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