How Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are the 'command and control networks of choice' for terrorists

The new head of Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency said that Facebook, Twitter, and Whatspp have become the networks for Isis.

17:22 04 November 2014

Robert Hannigan, the new head of Britain’s GCHQ intelligence agency warned that Facebook, Twitter and Whatspp have become the “command and control networks of choice” for Isis. He also accused the US tech giants of being “in denial” over the role they play in terrorism.

"The extremists of Isis use messaging and social media services such as Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp, and a language their peers understand.

"However much they may dislike it, they have become the command-and-control networks of choice for terrorists and criminals, who find their services as transformational as the rest of us.”

He added that the Silicon Valley firms needed to co-operate more with the intelligence services to target the growth of extremist content online.

"GCHQ and its sister agencies, MI5 and the Secret Intelligence Service, cannot tackle these challenges at scale without greater support from the private sector, including the largest US technology companies which dominate the web.”

But Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "It is wholly wrong to state that internet companies are failing to assist in investigations.

"The Government and agencies have consistently failed to provide evidence that internet companies are being actively obstructive.

"These companies have consistently proved through their own transparency reports that they help the intelligence agencies when it is appropriate for them to do so, which is in the vast majority of cases.”