Fight against Isis has now moved from battlefield to the internet

WORLD leaders yesterday ordered social media giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter to “act urgently” in developing new tools to block violent content.

The G7 group issued the unprecedented instruction amid a growing backlash against online terror.

The leaders’ statement, issued as they met for a summit in Sicily, said: “The internet has proven to be a powerful tool for terrorist purposes.

“The G7 call for communication service providers and social media companies to substantially increase their effort to address terrorist content.

“We encourage the industry to act urgently in developing and sharing new technology and tools to improve the automatic detection of content promoting incitement to violence.”

The leaders also agreed to work harder to tackle pro-jihadi propaganda with their own pro-Western messages, adding: “We will support the promotion of alternative and positive narratives rooted in our common values.”

And they committed themselves to supporting a proposed industry-led forum for combating online extremism.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who is attending her first G7 summit, said: “We will put our full weight behind the creation of this forum, which will develop the technology and techniques that will be used to take material down.

“It’s important that companies recognise their social responsibility. We need to work together to fight the evil of terrorism.”

May also urged fellow leaders to pool intelligence on homegrown jihadis who have joined Isis.

It comes amid fears that the trickle of battlehardened terrorists who return to the West could become a flood as the group continue to lose ground in Iraq and Syria.

Addressing leaders at a counter-terrorism session yesterday, May said: “The G7 need to share our expertise with countries foreign fighters travel through or fight in.

“We want to ensure those countries have the legal means to appropriately prosecute, extradite or deport.”