Surveillance laws tweaked to address terror threats

Britain and France yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed that they will join forces to press companies to do more to tackle online extremism. At the same time, notes Legalbrief, governments around the world are reviewing their surveillance laws to ensure that they stay ahead of growing terror threats. Prime Minister Theresa May and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron addressed May’s election campaign pledge to tackle online extremism following two attacks in as many weeks in Manchester and London that killed 30 people. A report on the EWN site notes that Internet firms, such as Google and Twitter, say they are investing heavily and employing thousands of people to take down hate speech and violent content on their platforms, with evidence their efforts are working. But the companies say they also struggle to identify replacement accounts that quickly reappear. After two Islamist attacks in less than two weeks, May’s bid to clamp down on Internet extremism has struck a chord with international leaders, especially Macron whose country has suffered several jihadist attacks since 2015, according to the report.

Full report on the EWN site