EU Rules on Terrorist Content Online

Tech Against Terrorism Europe will help platforms understand and navigate their way through new rules (2021/784) on removing terrorist content online.  

Why this matters

ONE HOUR TO REMOVE CONTENT 

Any hosting service provider* offering their services in the European Union must now take active steps to remove terrorist content on their platforms. 

The providers have one hour to remove content once there are alerted by authorities. These ‘competent authorities’ include judicial, administrative, or law enforcement bodies appointed by EU Member States. 

AVOID FINES AND STOP TERRORISTS 

The new EU rules aim to disrupt terrorist use of the internet and the dissemination of terrorist content online. Terrorists and violent extremists use the internet to spread to recruit, incite and solicit terrorist acts. 

Internet platforms that do not systematically comply with the rules are liable to be fined up to 4% of their global turnover.   

APPLIES TO ANY PLATFORM OFFERING SERVICES IN THE EU 

The new regulations apply to all companies who offer their services within the European Union, irrespective of whether they are headquartered in one of the member states.  

This covers hosting service providers storing information provided by and at the request of a user in the EU.   

How do we comply?

  • Steps to ensure terrorist content is removed from your platform within an hour of discovery and/or alert.

  • Stating clearly how you prevent and take measures to remove terrorist content from your platforms when they are found.

  • Safeguard the preservation of flagged and removed content or data, should they be requested by the relevant authorities.

  • Users must be informed if their content is removed and have a clear path to appeal against the decision.

  • Hosting service providers must keep the authorities informed of terrorist content found and removed on their platform, and imminent threats to life.

Hosting service providers must take steps to ensure their platforms are not at risk of terrorist exploitation. These include:

Improving Your Counter-Terrorism Response: A Six-Step Guide to Adhering to the EU’s TCO Regulation

A six-step guide on the TCO Regulation requirements and further counter-terrorism measures you can (easily) take.

Expert guidance

Tech Against Terrorism Europe can help your platform stay ahead of the new rules. 

We are offering a free, bespoke and comprehensive programme of support to hosting service providers to ensure to compliance with the EU TCO.  

The programme is funded by the European Union and involves the in-depth experience and insight of Tech Against Terrorism and partners.  

Our expertise is backed by tools such as Terrorist Content Analytics Platform, the world’s first database of verified terrorist content, and our Knowledge Sharing Platform – an in-depth online resource to support tech companies operationally.  

Funded by the European Union

The Tech Against Terrorism Europe project is funded by the European Union Internal Security Fund (ISF-2021-AG-TCO-101080101). This project will support smaller hosting services providers (HSPs) in building their counterterrorism frameworks and with transparency reporting, as required by the EU’s terrorist content online (TCO) regulation and in Directive (EU) 2017/541.

Contact Us

Get in touch with the Tech Against Terrorism team.