GIFCT disrupts terrorist abuse and exploitation of digital platforms to maximize the extraordinary benefits of a free, open, and secure internet.
GIFCT was formally established in July 2017 by four founding companies - Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube - as a program of knowledge-sharing, technical collaboration and shared research.
Today, it is an independent organization capable of sustaining and deepening industry collaboration and capacity in its efforts to prevent terrorists and extremists from abusing and misusing digital platforms.
Addressing the threat posed by violence is a critical challenge for all of us. Together with governments and civil society groups, we can address the spread of terrorism and extremism online and on the ground, before it has a chance to take hold.
GIFCT goals:
A key objective of the GIFCT is to set a baseline standard across industry for addressing terrorist content online. Member companies support the GIFCT’s aim to significantly disrupt terrorist exploitation of the internet and agree to have:
Member also agree that governments will not be able to remove terrorist content directly from company platforms.
The executive board of the GIFCT will decide which applicants meet the membership criteria and has final approval of new members. Membership is not automatic.
After joining the GIFCT, members may designate a representative to participate in a monthly coordination call. Voting rights are limited to the four founding GIFCT companies.
In partnership with Tech Against Terrorism, GIFCT has has held 12 workshops around the world. It has connected over 120 tech companies with over 25 non-governmental organizations, 12 government bodies, and more than 100 policy makers, law enforcement, civil society, academic experts and practitioners.
GIFCT participants of the Hash Sharing Consortium have identified and catalogued over 200,000 pieces of terrorist content in less than two years. Member companies can use these unique digital fingerprints to remove matching videos and images, prevent viral spread of extremist content across services, and, in some cases, block terrorist content.
Over 9,200 URLs have also been indicated to include terrorist-hosted content and traced back to their host provider to handle in accordance with their terms and conditions.
As a founding member of GIFCT, Facebook has taken a proactive approach to combatting terrorism and violent extremist content.
The mission of GIFCT is to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms. Terrorism is an attack on open societies and addressing the threat posed by violence is a critical challenge for all of us. Our companies have amassed considerable experience in tackling extremist and violent content on our platforms, and we are committed to playing our part in addressing this global challenge - together with governments and civil society groups, which address the problem on the ground every day.