Social media firms are like irresponsible landlords: UK counter-terrorism police head

Apple iPhone 7 on black table with icons of social media facebook, instagram, twitter, snapchat application on screen. Smartphone (Dreamstime/TNS)

LONDON: Technology and social media firms are allowing extremists to act with impunity and lack commitment in tackling the online terrorist threat, a senior British police officer said on Tuesday.

Mark Rowley, Britain's top counter-terrorism officer, also criticised major communication service providers for failing to take action against extremists, saying they had failed to make a single direct referral to British police about terrorist activity on their sites.