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Sir Nick Clegg faces pressure to attend Commons’ probe into Facebook’s practices and data breaches

The inquiry could ask Sir Nick questions on the Cambridge Analytica scandal and inaccurate news coverage being proliferated on the website - Bloomberg
The inquiry could ask Sir Nick questions on the Cambridge Analytica scandal and inaccurate news coverage being proliferated on the website - Bloomberg

Sir Nick Clegg is under pressure to face questions from MPs over Parliament’s inquiry into Facebook’s data breaches and activity around fake news, following revelations the former Deputy Prime Minister will become an executive at the US technology company. 

The former Liberal Democrat leader, who was revealed to become Facebook’s new head of global affairs and communications on Friday, is being pushed to address members undertaking an investigation into the social media giant’s practices.         

The inquiry, being conducted by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee, could ask Sir Nick questions on the Cambridge Analytica scandal and how inaccurate news coverage being proliferated on the website may have meddled in elections.

Sir David Amess said: “It would be an interesting evidence session in challenging the former deputy Prime Minister on the way Facebook have addressed or not addressing the many challenges it faces." 

Members also suggested at the very least Sir Nick could use his new role to try get Mark Zuckerberg, who is Facebook’s chief executive and founder, to appear at the committee. 

Julian Knight, a DCMS committee member, said: “Congratulations on your new job Nick, would you be so kind as to suggest to your new boss that he finally appears before the DCMS select committee?” 

Mr Zuckerberg was summoned by Parliament earlier this year to be questioned over the investigation and has three times refused to attend the select committee. But he has, however, agreed to be scrutinised by US legislators in Washington and EU politicians in Brussels earlier this year.

The committee’s investigation is focused around Facebook allowing a British data firm, that was linked to Donald Trump’s election campaign, to harvest information from 50 million of its users.

Members are hopeful that Sir Nick, who will earn more than £1million a year in his new job, will want to comply with the inquiry.  

Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “I am sure that any former British politician would always be willing to appear before a select committee and be supportive of the UK’s democratic institutions.” 

Facebook has more than 2.2 billion monthly users around the world and 40 million in the UK. Facebook ­has been contacted for comment.