FBook is a "digital gangster"

A committee publishes its findings after an 18-month investigation into fake news and accuses Facebook of obstructing its inquiry.

MPs calling for a code of ethics to ensure social media platforms remove harmful content from their sites have branded Facebook "digital gangsters" in a parliamentary report.

The digital, culture, media and sport committee published its findings after an 18-month investigation into disinformation and fake news and accused Facebook of obstructing its inquiry.

The report warned the social media giant was using its dominance to crush rivals and prevent other platforms from competing with it.

The committee said internal Facebook documents it obtained showed the tech firm "violated" laws by selling people's private data without their permission.

"Companies like Facebook should not be allowed to behave like 'digital gangsters' in the online world, considering themselves to be ahead of and beyond the law," the report warned.

Among the most contentious topics MPs have investigated has been the work of Leave-supporting campaigns ahead of the Brexit vote

MPs also said democracy was at risk from the "malicious and relentless" targeting of citizens with disinformation.

The committee expressed concerns about "dark adverts" from unidentifiable sources, as they called for reform to electoral communications laws.