Watchdog casts doubt on new counter terror powers

Max Hill QC has questioned the necessity of the Prime Minister’s proposal to levy fines against tech companies for failing to remove extremist content. Theresa May had previously said that large technology companies, like Facebook, Google and Twitter, had a responsibility to block users who post extremist content and report individuals to authorities if there is evidence of imminent harm. However, the official reviewer of terrorism laws has said that ‘it is a question of the bulk of the material rather than any lack of co-operation in dealing with it’. In an interview with the BBC, he also questioned the need to ‘beef up’ Tpims, which restrict terror suspects’ movements.