Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Anti-vaccination Extremism

Monday 8 February 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is focused on countering disinformation and misinformation regarding the vaccine.
  • Work is taking place across Government involving sanctions and penalties through the online harms Bill targeting social media platforms.
  • Government is working across Departments to take action against false information on social media.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Hollern Lab
NHS
Context

MP notes that misinformation online undermines public health efforts, particularly in communities where local councillors are actively promoting vaccinations.

Question

What steps the Government are taking to tackle covid-19 anti-vaccination extremism posted online. I have seen the brilliant work Labour councillors in Hounslow, Swindon and Blackburn have been doing to appeal to communities to take the vaccine. This work is being undermined by misinformation on social media, and is literally a matter of life and death. What plans do the Government have to bring forward legislation on, for example, financial and criminal penalties for social media companies that fail to act to stamp out this dangerous anti-vaccine content?

Answer from Priti Patel

The Government is focused on countering disinformation and misinformation regarding the vaccine. Work is taking place across Government, involving sanctions and penalties through the online harms Bill targeting social media platforms. The NHS remains trusted as a source of information.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific legislative plans for financial or criminal penalties were not detailed

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Q2 Kate Hollern Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

MP notes that misinformation online undermines public health efforts, particularly in communities where local councillors are actively promoting vaccinations.

Question

What plans do the Government have to bring forward legislation on, for example, financial and criminal penalties for social media companies that fail to act to stamp out this dangerous anti-vaccine content?

Answer from Priti Patel

The Government is focused on countering disinformation and misinformation regarding the vaccine. Work is taking place across Government, involving sanctions and penalties through the online harms Bill targeting social media platforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific legislative plans for financial or criminal penalties were not detailed

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Q3 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
NHS
Context

MP notes that misinformation online undermines public health efforts, particularly in communities where some individuals are hesitant to accept the vaccine.

Question

The spread of disinformation and anti-vaccine content on social media is presenting a real danger to the NHS in its efforts to vaccinate against covid-19. In an agreement with the social media giants it was revealed that their only commitment was not to profit from or promote flagged anti-vax content, but there was no commitment to close down these groups. Is it not time that the Government got tougher to stop the anti-vax message getting through?

Answer from Priti Patel

The Government is very clear about taking action against false information, working across all Departments. Action is being put on social media platforms when disinformation materialises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to get tougher were not detailed

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