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EU, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft: We'll fight terrorists... with WORKSHOPS

EU has dinner with Big Tech before debating data protection

The EU, and several of the world's biggest and most powerful tech companies, made little progress in finding ways to combat terrorists' use of online media, following a meeting and dinner on Wednesday night.

EU government ministers met Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft representatives.

Although terrorist groups (most notably IS/Isis) have increasingly used social media tools to spread their message, there was no formal agreement on any concrete steps to limit their internet activities.

However, it was agreed to organise "joint training and awareness raising workshops for the representatives of the law enforcement authorities, internet industry, and civil society,” said a statement from the European Commission, which organised the meeting.

Amid heightened online propaganda efforts directed at the Western audience by terrorist organisations operating in Iraq and Syria, home office ministers from all EU member countries discussed ways to combat online terrorist propaganda with senior representatives from the four tech giants over dinner in Luxembourg.

The meeting came on the eve of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, where those same ministers will discuss how to move forward with the proposed Data Protection Regulation, a draft law that the US-based Big Four would like to see watered down. ®

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