Criticisms are multiplying the day after a hearing of the boss of Facebook at the European Parliament both in terms of the vagueness of Mark Zuckerberg’s answers and the chosen format. The question on Wednesday 23 May is whose fault it is.
On Tuesday evening, the heads of the political groups quizzed Zuckerberg for more than an hour, only leaving him ten or so minutes to reply after he read an introductory statement (see EUROPE 12024).
Questioned about the choice and duration of this format, Antonio Tajani gave evasive answers, saying it was the Conference of Presidents that had decided how the meeting with Zuckerberg would take place, adding that since Zuckerberg’s is not European, he was not required to turn up but had decided to answer the invitation.
Tajani added that it was not always easy to organise this type of meeting, especially when the hearing is not compulsory.
Nevertheless, many observers put the absence of answers by the young billionaire down to the format of the hearing.
Co-president of the Green/EFA group, Philippe Lambert, said Mark Zuckerberg’s answers cruelly lacked depth and the President of Parliament had allowed him to not answer in detail. His group would have required Zuckerberg to answer each question separately rather than all in one go, as happened at the hearing.
All eyes are no on how the hearing, broadcast online, is to be followed up. ECR co-president Syed Kamall (United Kingdom) warned: "When Facebook’s technical team visit the civil liberties committee it should be organised in such a way to make sure they actually have to directly tackle all our questions, however difficult."
The S&D group intends to "apply pressure" to ensure Mark Zuckerberg attends the committee hearing.
If Facebook fails to give details in the written answers it has pledged to provide, then Parliament is ready to react. Firstly, by strengthening existing rules, and then asking the EU's competition authorities to examine Facebook’s monopoly situation, warned Belgium’s Guy Verhofstadt on behalf of the ALDE group. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)