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September 18, 2017

Theresa May ups the pressure on Google & Facebook to counter terrorist threat

Will Theresa May be able to stop terrorist plans through social media?

By April Slattery

Theresa May has urged web pages Facebook and Google to increase security measures to help stop terrorists plan attacks.

Following the last six months of terror attacks across the UK, the Prime Minister has looked at big name tech companies to help reduce the spread of terror across the internet.

May looks for leaders around the world to join

Theresa May’s plea follows the latest terror attack at Parsons Green Tube Station

her in the effort to encourage internet providers to clamp down on the terror spread, as terrorist leaders target younger people to ‘warp’ their minds to carry out attacks.

In an interview with US broadcasting firm ABC News, May said: “One of the issues we need to be addressing is the question of the use of the internet by terrorists for terrorist planning.”

Silicon Valley firms Facebook and Google were approached by May after facing criticism for how easy it is for users to seek information about how to make a terror device, after the latest terror attack at Parsons Green Tube station on Friday morning.

May outlined the likes of Google and Facebook putting plans in place to lead the way to reduce the amount of terror planning online and said: “These companies have formed a global forum to look at what they can do to be dealing with this more quickly and in a better way than they do at the moment.”

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In addition to eliminating the spread of terror, enticing young minds and planning attacks the Prime Minister added that social media companies need to stop the spread of extremism, hatred and propaganda which can encourage terrorism as well.

How has Facebook already implemented precautions?
Silicon Valley companies vow to increase terror security measures
Should encryption be eliminated?

Google and Facebook aren’t the first social media platform’s to be directed to reduce terror threats after the popular messaging app WhatsApp was accused earlier this year of being used to plan and collate together terrorists and planning as its encryption gives terrorists the ability to hide.

Theresa May is due to discuss plans with French president Emmanuel Macron about how to tackle the extremist terror threats later this week.

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