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ISIS Twitter

Isis attack widow sues Twitter for the group's 'explosive growth'

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

January 14, 2016 | 2 min read

Twitter is being sued by the widow of an American killed in an Isis attack who claims that the social network had until recently given the terrorist group an "unfettered" ability to spread its propaganda.

Claimant Tamara Fields’ husband was killed 9 November 2015 in an attack on a Jordanian police training camp and she’s alleging that the social network helped cultivate the growth of the group, enabling it to commit the attack.

Her complaint, issued to the the federal court in Oakland, California, states: "Without Twitter, the explosive growth of Isis over the last few years into the most-feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible."

Twitter issued a statement to address the accusation: “While we believe the lawsuit is without merit, we are deeply saddened to hear of this family's terrible loss.

"Violent threats and the promotion of terrorism deserve no place on Twitter and, like other social networks, our rules make that clear."

Fields seeks triple damages from Twitter, accusing it of breaching the federal Anti-Terrorism Act.

The lawsuit comes at a time when counter-terrorism measures are high on the agenda for the social network.

Earlier this week, its top executives joined Google, Facebook and Apple in meeting with US intelligence officers at the White House to discuss ways to hinder terrorists’ attempts to radicalise and mobilise followers online.

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