Facebook, Twitter and the maker of BlackBerry smartphones have firmly rejected suggestions from MPs that their services should be shut down during riots, arguing that public saftey would be threatened. 

But they admitted the Government already has powers to order a blackout with which they wiould be forced to comply.

The firms were appearing before the Commons Home Affairs Committee, which is investigating the causes and responses to the riots in English cities last month.

Alexander Macgillivray, Twitter’s general counsel, told the Committee that forcing social networks offline was an “absolutely horrible idea”, because they were used by innocent people to share safety information and keep in touch with loved ones.

“Even the police forces are saying it’s not a good idea,” he added.

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