Facebook Aims to Become ‘Hostile’ to Terrorists

Exec: Social media platform works 'aggressively' to remove terrorist content.

June 6, 2017 5:00 am
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Facebook says it wants to make the social media platform “hostile” to terrorists in the aftermath of an attack in London this weekend left at least seven dead and 48 injured.

Simon Milner, Facebook’s director of policy, issued a widely reported statement Sunday that said the platform works “aggressively” to remove terrorist content.

“We want Facebook to be a hostile environment for terrorists,” he said, according to CNN.

On Sunday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May called for closer regulation of the internet. She said terrorists need to be denied the digital tools they use to communicate and plan attacks. In order to reduce the risks of extremism online, May said, democratic governments must regulate cyberspace.

Milner said on Sunday that Facebook alerts authorities if they become aware of an emergency involving imminent harm to someone’s safety.

There has been increased pressure on tech companies in Europe because of the way they handle threats and hate speech. Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and many other services have encrypted channels that may shield communications from law enforcement.

Social media platforms Twitter and Facebook, in particular, have been previously used by ISIS and other terror groups to disseminate propaganda.

Twitter joined the conversation when Nick Pickles, Twitter’s head of public policy in the U.K., defended his company Sunday. He told CNNMoney in a statement that “terrorist content has no place on Twitter.”

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