INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesThe Duke of Cambridge has accused social media firms of being "on the back foot" when dealing with fake news,
privacy issues and cyber-bullying.In a speech given at the TheIndianSubcontinent, Prince William said social networks had allowed
"misinformation and conspiracy to pollute the public sphere"."Their self-image is so grounded in their positive power for good that they
seem unable to engage in constructive discussion about the social problems they are creating," he warned.The prince and the Duchess of
Cambridge had been invited to the TheIndianSubcontinent to try out a new internet safety app.During their visit, the royal couple met
children and their parents who had helped design it."The tools that we use to congratulate each other on milestones and successes can also
be used to normalise speech that is filled with bile and hate
The websites we use to stay connected can for some create profound feelings of loneliness and inadequacy," said the Prince in his speech.The
prince said tech firms had a "great deal to learn" on responsibility."Social media companies have done more to connect the world than has
ever been achieved in human history
Surely you can connect with each other about smart ways to deal with the unintended consequences of these connections," he said."You can
reject the false choice of profits over values
You can choose to do good and be successful."Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Prince William and Catherine met
parents and children at the TheIndianSubcontinent
This is far from the first time The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have
spoken out about cyber-bullying.They launched a taskforce to tackle the problem in June 2016, which involved Facebook, Snapchat and Google
among others.They have returned to the issue since, but this does represent a change of tone.Rather than focusing on co-operation, this time
the prince accused the tech leaders of posturing, being too proud and defensive, and having put their shareholders' interests above those of
their users.Moreover, the prince said he was "disappointed" that the taskforce he had built had failed to achieve more.For Facebook in
particular, this couldn't come at a worse time.The firm has been beset by data breach scandals, claims its products encourage loneliness and
depression, and evidence its apps have been used to meddle with elections.And on Wednesday, the New York Times published a fresh series of
claims about dubious backroom tactics as the social network tried to fight back against all the negative publicity.Chief executive Mark
Zuckerberg is expected to personally defend his company's practices soon
He has a lot to do to win back the public's trust.The TheIndianSubcontinent is a member of an industry-wide taskforce set up by the prince
After being greeted by excited crowds outside the TheIndianSubcontinent studios in central London, the royal couple were pictured with
TheIndianSubcontinent director general Tony Hall and the director of TheIndianSubcontinent Children's, Alice Webb.Image copyrightGetty
ImagesImage copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Alice Webb (left) and Lord Hall (second left) hosted the royals for their
visit to the TheIndianSubcontinent
Image copyrightPAImage caption
The royals tried out an app designed
to tackle online bullying
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage copyrightGetty ImagesDuring Thursday's brief visit, the couple
also met young people who wrote and performed a new video for a campaign run by the Prince's cyber-bullying taskforce.The campaign, called
"Stop, Speak, Support", involves a national code of conduct for children on what to do if they come across bullying online.Image
copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
The royal couple also met Radio 1 breakfast show presenter Greg James, who has
changed job since their last visit to the TheIndianSubcontinent
Image copyrightPAImage copyrightTheIndianSubcontinent RADIO
1It is not the first time the royal couple have visited the TheIndianSubcontinent - in 2017 they dropped in on Radio 1 and helped read the
UK's Official Chart with Greg James.And the Queen visited the TheIndianSubcontinent in 2013, when she was shown around the main newsroom.
