Correspondence regarding social media misinformation: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
All the documentation received or sent by John Swinney/his office including minutes/notes from meetings, correspondence sent and received (including internal), briefings and policy notes, about social media misinformation and what can be done, between August 1 2024 and August 15 2024.
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested. The information is split into three main types:
1. Letter to social media companies
Some of the information you have requested is available on our website at gov.scot. On 9 August 2024 we published a letter from First Minister John Swinney to X, Meta and TikTok about action to combat the spread of misinformation, and to address racist and hateful material on their platforms. You can find this correspondence here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/misinformation-racism-and-hateful-materialonline-letter-to-social-media-companies/
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
2. Emails to social media companies
We attach copies of emails issued to those companies providing them with the above correspondence.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information)] of FOISA applies to that information. In these instances, it is our policy not to release personal information of civil servants under Senior Civil Service level. We have therefore removed the names of officials involved in issuing the correspondence on behalf of the First Minister.
3. Correspondence to Peter Kyle MP Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Finally, we attach a letter issued on 8 August 2024 to Peter Kyle MP.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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