Google, Facebook and Government Ministers to be questioned on advertising by Lords

The Committee will also hear from Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Anne Milton MP, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Department for Education.

                                         
Google and Facebook receive over half of all online ad revenue in the UK. This session will explore the role their businesses play in the value chain of the digital advertising market and whether online advertising platforms should be regulated as publishers.

The evidence session will begin at 3.30pm in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. Giving evidence will be:

• Adam Cohen, Head of Economic Policy for EMEA, Google
• Michael Todd, Head of Advertising Industry Relations, Google
• Ed Couchman, Director of Agency Partnerships, Facebook
• Simon Milner, Policy Director - UK, Middle East and Africa, Facebook
  

Questions the Committee are likely to ask include:

• Are there any downsides to the digital advertising market of Facebook and Google's preponderance in search and social media? 
• What steps have been taken to ensure that the metrics that are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of your advertising services are appropriate and transparent to advertisers?
• What steps have been taken to tackle ad fraud?
• What effect will Brexit have on Facebook and Google and, how will it affect their operations in the UK?
  

In the second session with the Ministers, the Committee will ask the Government how it intends to ensure that the advertising industry can continue to access the international talent and young people with the necessary skills that it needs.

The session will begin at 4:30pm and the Committee are likely to ask:

• What steps has the Government taken to promote advertising as a career to young people?
• What steps has the Government taken to ensure that apprenticeships work better for the advertising industry and associated creative sectors?
• What provision has been made to allow EU students to remain in the UK once they have completed their course of study?
• How will the Government ensure that the UK advertising industry continues to have access to international markets especially the EU?