CEP set out a number of recommendations ahead of the release of the European Commission’s proposal on removal of terrorist content online in autumn 2018.

The media arms of groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and al-Shabab produce propaganda in a myriad of textual, audio, and video forms––from music videos to glossy magazines––that have helped to convince individuals around the world to join extremist groups and to conduct deadly attacks in their home countries.

ISIS and other extremist groups, as well as their online supporters, have continued to exploit and misuse Google’s platforms to disseminate propaganda material, despite the company having repeatedly announced increased measures to combat online extremism.

Terrorist and extremist groups use the encrypted messaging application Telegram to recruit new members, fundraise, incite to violence, and even coordinate terrorist activity.

ISIS is the most notable of the many extremist groups that have weaponized social media and messaging platforms to recruit, incite violence, and plot attacks, but U.S.-based companies continue to respond on a case-by-case basis if at all.

CEP has worked to outline and compare Internet and technology companies’ approaches to extremist content as it may appear on social media, messaging applications, websites, blogs, and video-hosting websites, among other platforms.