UK unveils tools to block extremist content online

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The British government has unveiled a tool that it says can block extremist content on the Internet with reasonable accuracy.

The new software, developed by London-based data science firm ASI on behalf of the British government, can identify and block 94 percent of IS propaganda video with 99.99 accuracy, according to British Home Secretary Amber Rudd here on Tuesday.

Rudd is on a two-day visit to San francisco meeting with tech giants and U.S. officials to discuss how to better combat extremists on Internet platforms.

Rudd said the software is designed to be offered to small tech firms that cannot afford to develop such systems. She did not rule out forcing technology companies to use it by law.

"We're not going to rule out taking legislative action if we need to do it," she said.

The secretary said that last year, all of the five attacks on British soil had an online component.

"It does seem that those who commit terrorist murders on our streets are increasingly influenced by what they read and what they see online," Rudd said.

Last year, IS supporters in Britain used more than 400 separate online platforms for propaganda, according to British Home Office analysis. Enditem