France Seeks to Sanction Web Companies for Posts Pushing Terror

The French government is stepping up the pressure on Google and Facebook to help in the struggle against terrorist groups. President Francois Hollande said the government will present a draft law in February that makes Internet operators “accomplices” of hate-speech offenses if they host extremist messages.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he will travel to the US to seek help from the heads of Twitter and Microsoft as well as Google and Facebook. Spokesmen for the companies did not immediately return requests for comment. “The big operators, and we know who they are, can no longer close their eyes if they are considered accomplices of what they host,” President Hollande said. “We must act at the European and international level to define a legal framework so that Internet platforms which manage social media be considered responsible, and that sanctions can be taken.”