France seeks legislation to hold Google, Facebook 'accountable' for hate speech

The French government has reportedly announced plans to hold b companies responsible for hosting any extremist messages that their users may post.

Urging leaders to act at the European and international level, French President Francois ollande said that he wanted to introduce a legal framework that would make companies like, oogle, Facebook "accomplices" in crimes of hate speech if users post content that is deemed extremist" by the government, reported The Verge.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve plans to travel to discuss the proposal with the eads of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter. Hollande is expected to present a draft aw next month.

The statement is being seen as a reaction to the recent terror attack on French satirical magazine harlie Hebdo. It follows a string of anti-terror proposals made by the country recently ncluding, stronger social media surveillance.

"The bullish rhetoric" used by the French politicians in the aftermath of the tragedy has raised ears of a European Patriot Act, much like the legislation enacted by the U.S. after the 9/11 ttacks.