Government has a private meeting with Zuckerberg

THE UK'S Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt has done something that possibly he shouldn't have done.

Hunt, who was accused of de-tweeting negative posts about the Lib-dems before he had to be friends with them, posted up a message about a meeting with Mark Zuckerberg this morning. A meeting that no one else seems to want to talk about.

"Just met Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook. Really smart guy with some good ideas on improvement digital engagement in policy making," he twitted.

Namedropping maybe, but it does beg the question of why Zuckerberg, who is in town to present at a Facebook developer day, was treated to tea and biscuits with the minister.

According to Hunt's press people, the meeting was not arranged by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is where Hunt hangs his hat, but from Number 10. Facebook's PR people were also able to confirm that the meeting had indeed taken place, but added that Prime Minister David Cameron was there.

A call to the Number 10 press office told us that yes the meeting had taken place, but ironically, given the guest, added that it was private, and routine. Asked whether meetings with the 24-year old billionaire were indeed 'routine' the press people confirmed that they were not, but added that his arrival in the UK meant that there 'was a chance' for a meeting.

So, we know that young Zuckerberg was ushered through the big black door at Number 10, but still not why. Maybe Cameron wants to remove the 'add me as a friend' button from his page like his new friend has. Alternatively, they could have been discussing - read laughing about - the Digital Economy Act, which for some is as big a kick in the privacy bollocks as Facebook is. We still don't know.

Update, Number 10 just called to let us know that it was a routine, private meeting - thanks, we were listening the first time - but added that Cameron only 'popped in'. Making the whole event sound like an episode of Loose Women.

So there you have it. 'A routine meeting' between our oh-so technologically competent, privacy-protecting and transparent Government and the head of the firm that is currently being targeted by just about every privacy organisation in the world. Nothing to see here, move along now, but some room for speculation.

We can assume that the meeting wasn't about what to do about police or NHS data breaches, as explaining how exposing people's data to third parties is a bad thing would have taken far longer than any of the parties could spare on a busy Monday morning. Judging by the amenable responses from the social notworker, no one approached the Facebook chief with the admonishment ruler and rapped it across his knuckles, and none of them watched the Portugal / North Korea match.

The wall of silence does raise some questions though. Most of all, these. Why would the UK Government want to talk to someone as mired in privacy controversy as young Zuckerberg is? Are we really to believe it was just a friendly hello and brief chat about social engagement? It didn't have anything to do with cooperating to collect personal data for, er, mutual gain?

George Orwell would have had a field day considering this, but our lawyers are still in the pub, so we'll take a raincheck. µ