Mark Zuckerberg humiliated by international lawmakers for failing to give evidence on Facebook scandals

Gabriel Sainhas, House of Commons

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's empty chair.

• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was humiliated by a group of international lawmakers for failing to give evidence on Facebook scandals.
• The International Grand Committee convened in the UK on Tuesday, with politicians from nine different countries coming together with the ambition of grilling Zuckerberg.
• After repeated requests to give evidence, Zuckerberg declined. As a result, the committee decided to empty chair the Facebook CEO.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was humiliated by a group of international lawmakers for failing to give evidence on Facebook scandals.

The International Grand Committee convened in the UK on Tuesday, with politicians from nine different countries coming together with the ambition of grilling Zuckerberg. It is the first time since 1933 that such a committee has assembled in the UK.

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After repeated requests to give evidence, Zuckerberg declined. As a result, the committee decided to empty chair the Facebook CEO in an unusual piece of political theatre.

Instead, Facebook fielded policy chief Richard Allan to handle questions from lawmakers. He sat next to the chair intended for Zuckerberg. Here's a screenshot from the session:

Parliament

Allan apologized for Zuckerberg's no-show and admitted that the optics of the decision were "not great."

Charlie Angus, vice chair of Canada's Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics committee, said he was "deeply disappointed" by Zuckerberg's decision to "blow off" the committee.

As well as Canada, parliamentarians from countries including Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, and Singapore were represented on Tuesday.