[samstave]

>The chair of the committee can call anybody in the world that they deem appropriate.

Serious question: if I were to be called by the UK chair of the committee, aside from optics - why cant I just say "FU"? What authority do they have over me?

NOTE: Not defending FB/Z

[DanBC]

They have no authority over you.

Here's a bit more: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z...

They could find you in contempt, which would matter if you ever visited the UK.

The risk for Facebook is that the public are increasingly frustrated with big companies not paying their fair share of tax. Some people will say "but they're only paying what the law says they have to pay". Those people are failing to understand the British cultural value of "not taking the piss". Not attending would be saying "FU", and that's likely to add to the pressure to make these large companies pay more tax.

[stordoff]

They may summon you, but would have no means/authority by which to compel attendance or impose punishment. Further, it's seen as more of a soft power:

> [I]t remains unclear what sanctions it would have at its disposal. Historically, those found guilty of contempts could be fined or imprisoned, but those sanctions have not been used by the Commons since 1666 and 1880 respectively. For all sorts of practical, legal and constitutional reasons, it is highly doubtful that the modern House would seriously consider this.

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/contempt-witn...