Facebook's Instagram and the Google+ social network have agreed to join an EU-sponsored group of US internet giants to combat online extremism, EU officials announced Friday.
German lawmakers have approved a controversial law that would impose high fines on social media companies like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for failing to swiftly delete posts deemed to exhibit hate speech.
Google has vowed to intensify its fight against online extremism, acknowledging that "more needs to be done." The tech giant pledged to take four additional steps which it believes will help combat terrorist content.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Dec. 1 that Turkey had violated conventions on freedom of expression when it banned YouTube for more than two years until late 2010.