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Government 'blocked' from accessing Twitter data to help spot terrorist plots

Twitter has come under fire for blocking access to its data - PA
Twitter has come under fire for blocking access to its data - PA

Twitter has blocked the Government from accessing data on potential terrorist threats in a move that ministers fear will make the country less safe, industry sources have told The Telegraph. 

The social media platform has withdrawn access to key streams of information which help the police and MI5 to identify plots, under plans to stop user data being used for "surveillance". 

The Government is understood to have paid a third-party company for the service, which tracked terms related to potential terror attacks before it was blocked by Twitter. 

Ministers are said to be furious about the decision and have attempted to overturn it but have been unsuccessful, an industry source said.

The move is the latest in a series of rows between the Government and social media companies after ministers called on them to do more to prevent terrorist material being spread online. 

Sources fear the decision will make the UK less safe - Credit: Yui Mok
Sources fear the decision will make the UK less safe Credit: Yui Mok

Last year Twitter blocked the CIA from accessing its data after the American intelligence agency agreed a deal with Dataminr, a company Twitter part owns.

The CIA contract was blocked after it reiterated its promise to prevent data from being used to track people before they commit a crime.

Instead it said Government agencies are free to search Twitter as any public user can but without the help of third-party businesses, who are able to access data in real time to help pinpoint the location of users and help to identify potential plots.

The Prime Minister - Credit: AFP
The Prime Minister Credit: AFP

In a post on its blog Twitter's vice-president of data and solutions Chris Moody wrote that any third-party company offering data to paying government clients would be blocked if it was being used for surveillance.

He said: "Recent reports about Twitter data being used for surveillance ...have caused us great concern.  "As a company, our commitment to social justice is core to our mission and well established. And our policies in this area are long-standing. 

"Using Twitter’s Public APIs or data products to track or profile protesters and activists is absolutely unacceptable and prohibited."

Mr Moody added: "Over the coming months, you’ll see us take on expanded enforcement and compliance efforts, including adding more resources for swiftly investigating and acting on complaints about the misuse of Twitter’s Public APIs and Gnip data products."

Ministers have called on social media sites to clamp down on terrorist posts - Credit: Alamy
Ministers have called on social media sites to clamp down on terrorist posts Credit: Alamy

Twitter allows developers to access to some of its data and companies can pay for information on things like trends and specific search terms via Gnip, a former startup now owned by the social media platform.

APIs, or application program interfaces, are functions and codes which allow developers to build apps for use within an existing platform like Twitter.

Companies like Dataminr, which the Home Office is thought to have been working with, also provide bespoke data pulled from Twitter for a fee.

Dataminr is five per cent owned by Twitter and is the only third-party company which has access to all of the platform's user data in real time. 

Home Secretary Amber Rudd - Credit: AFP
Home Secretary Amber Rudd Credit: AFP

If has previously found itself in hot water after offering a contact to a Los Angeles police department which could have been used to track protesters. Twitter shut the deal down by blocking access under its user rules. 

The company has previously courted controversy after ministers warned it does not do enough to prevent terrorist propaganda videos and networks from spreading online.

Last month Home Secretary Amber Rudd warned Twitter and other similar sites must do more to crack down on hate speech and terror plots online as she hinted at possible legislation if they fail to do more. 

A spokesman for Twitter reiterated Mr Moody's words from November.

 

 

 

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