May: We’ll make social media firms liable for jihadi material

THERESA May yesterday told social media firms that they could be forced to take responsibility for terrorist and paedophile material published online.

At present, firms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter are not defined as ‘publishers’ and thus cannot be held liable in the courts for what appears on their sites.

The firms say they are merely passive hosts of the material and that the publishers are those who write the content.

Yesterday the Prime Minister warned that ministers were prepared to change the law to make it clear such firms are publishers.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said the current system made it harder to force firms to take down terrorist material or child abuse images.

‘No one wants to be known as “the terrorists’ platform” or the first choice app for paedophiles,’ Mrs May said. ‘As governments, it is right that we look at the legal liability social media companies have for the content on their sites.

‘The status quo is increasingly unsustainable as it becomes clear these platforms are no longer just passive hosts. But we need to consider what is most appropriate for the modern economy.’

Mrs May also urged financial investors in social media companies to take a more active role in ensuring that their platforms are not used to spread extremist messages or images of child abuse.