New Delhi: Facebook whistleblower Sophie Zhang, who in 2020 had revealed how governments the world over were using fake accounts on the social media platform to influence public opinion, will likely not be deposed in front of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information & Technology.
According to a report by the Hindu, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla’s office has, as yet, not issued any communication granting or denying Zhang permission for her deposition.
According to the rules of Parliament, witnesses are not allowed to participate in the meetings of a standing committee via video-conferencing and an in-person testimony from a foreign national requires the permission of the speaker of the house.
Committee chairperson and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had, on November 1, 2021, posted on Twitter noting that permission from the speaker had been sought vis-a-vis Zhang’s deposition. According to the Hindu report, members of the committee had unanimously agreed with Tharoor’s decision on November 30 that year.
This has just happened & with its agenda official, the Committee will hold its first meetings of the new session on Nov16&17. Under our procedures videoconferencing is not permitted. Testimony in person by witnesses from abroad requires the Speaker’s consent. This is being sought
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 1, 2021
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