G7 and tech companies agree to remove terrorist content

The G7 and several representatives from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter agreed Friday on the approach to take down terrorist content from the Internet. For example, they want to quickly remove this type of content automatically.

The emphasis is also on ‘sharing best practices and techniques with smaller companies’ and conducting research and development, the parties report in a press release. AFP writes on the basis of a statement by the French interior minister that the aim of the negotiations was to agree on the removal of terrorist content within two hours of it being uploaded. The press release does not explicitly mention this term. Until now, the companies had 24 hours and this longer period has already caused them difficulties.

Still, it is likely that the shorter term will be adopted, as the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy and France introduced this requirement at the end of September when they called on tech companies to accelerate removals. According to AFP, the British representative at the current meeting in Italy believes that swift removal is a good first step, but that companies should go further by preventing terrorist material from being uploaded.

In the European Union, a year ago, the Commission established a code of conduct on the removal of hate-mongering content from the Internet. This sparked criticism from civil rights groups, who said it gave the companies the power to judge what content is and isn’t allowed. In December of last year it appeared that the EU was not satisfied with the approach and in April reports came out that regulation in this area is being considered.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft formed a working group in June called The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, which aims to formalize and strengthen existing partnerships between the companies.