Combatting Terrorism-Related Content Through AI and Information Sharing

In its first meeting at Ditchley Park, UK, in March, the Transatlantic Working Group (TWG) focused on the tech industry’s efforts to address hate speech and extremist content while still respecting freedom of expression. One effort we examined was a mechanism to combat online extremism through private-to-private information sharing efforts, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) and its industry-only hash-sharing database. The following analysis served as a basis for our discussions, and now has been revised to incorporate crucial insights from those discussions. It explains the background behind the GIFCT database, which often operates with secrecy, and analyses its implications for freedom of expression. This document also highlights important considerations for industry and policy makers about applying private industry-based information sharing as a method to address controversial, dangerous, or illegal online content.