Companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter should be fined if they fail to remove extremist, terrorist content, a leading think tank has said, warning their progress in in stopping it has been “glacial”.
Policy Exchange said a regulator should have the power to punish the UK subsidiaries of tech giants, just as Ofcom can fine broadcasters, that inadvertently host terrorist messages like propaganda and instructions on how to carry out attacks.
Policy Exchange’s report follows the Parsons Green attack last week, when an improvised explosive device was set off on a packed rush hour train. The device was reportedly built with help from online instructions.
Dr Martyn Frampton, the lead author of Policy Exchange’s report, said, when Theresa May meets with internet companies as part of her North American tour on Wednesday, she should challenge their “constant repetition” of “very fine words” on the subject without action.
He said they have moved at a “glacial” pace when addressing the problem.
