Jump directly to the content
Exclusive
'WOEFUL EXCUSES'

Top Tory urges Theresa May to follow Germany’s lead and FINE Facebook and Google for failing to tackle hate crime

Tim Loughton of the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee said it defied belief they could make billions but do so little to protect Brits

A SENIOR TORY has urged Theresa May to follow the Germans and fine Facebook and Google for failing to tackle hate crime.

Tim Loughton of the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee said it defied belief they could make billions but do so little to protect Brits.

 Chiefs from Google, Twitter and Facebook faced questions from the cross-party Home Affairs Select Committee
3
Chiefs from Google, Twitter and Facebook faced questions from the cross-party Home Affairs Select CommitteeCredit: PA:Press Association

And he slammed their “woeful” excuses to MPS in the brutal three-hour grilling in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Germany said it would fine social media giants as much as £40 million if they failed to remove vile child abuse or terrorist material within 24 hours.

 The trio were accused of 'commercial prostitution' and failing to protect Brits from hate crime
3
The trio were accused of 'commercial prostitution' and failing to protect Brits from hate crimeCredit: PA:Press Association

Speaking to the Sun, Mr Loughton said: “For any employers taking on illegal immigrations, or banks handling laundered money, ignorance is not a defence.

“And they will be heavily fined.

“So why should these multi-national corporates be immune.

“German proposals for proactive fines must be the way for us to go if these companies cannot clean up their act.”

The blast comes 24 hours after execs at Facebook, Twitter and YouTube owner Google were humiliated by MPs over their record on hate crime.

MPs on the Home Affairs Committee tore into the three for failing to act and take down “abhorrent” material on their platforms.

 Facebook's Simon Milner cannot guarantee reported images of children being abused get removed
3
Facebook's Simon Milner cannot guarantee reported images of children being abused get removedCredit: Sky News

Google policy chief Peter Barron said a vile anti-semitic video claiming Jews had organised “white genocide” didn’t breach YouTube’s community rules.

And he stunned MPs by saying his teams never proactively searched for terror or paedo material.

James Blessing of the Internet Service Providers Association earlier today blamed the problem on the meteoric expansion of the web giants.