A widow of an American killed in Jordan is suing Twitter for giving terrorists “unfettered” ability to maintain official Twitter accounts. This would be the first case in which a social media company is accused of violating the US Anti-Terrorism Act.
Tamara Fields, a Florida woman whose husband, Lloyd Fields, died in the 9th November 2015; he was among five people killed in the “lone wolf” attack at the police training center by Jordanian police officer Anwar Abu Zeid.
Fields is claims Twitter knowingly let ISIS use its network to recruit, raise money and spread propaganda. Fields accused Twitter of violating the US Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows triple damages for providing material support to terrorists.
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 said in a statement about the civil lawsuit.”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.”
A University of Notre Dame law professor specialising in terrorist financing. and former U.S. Treasury Department official, Jimmy Gurule said: “Social media plays an important role in allowing ISIS to recruit foreign fighters. But at the end of the day, is there a sufficient nexus between ISIS’ use of Twitter and acts of terror?”
“I’m not saying you can’t show it but it’s a real challenge.”
