The UK government has created a piece of AI technology to help tech platforms detect extremist propaganda and stop it from ever making its way on to the internet.

The tool, which has been developed by the Home Office and ASI Data Science, uses machine learning to analyse audio and imagery from a video to determine whether it has come from Daesh – also known as IS, ISIS, Islamic State etc. It works by being integrated into the upload process of any platform, and has been designed to help smaller tech firms keep terrorist content off of their platforms.

According to the government, the tech can detect 94 per cent of propaganda from Daesh with a 99.995 per cent accuracy – stating that only 50 of every 1m videos would require a human review.

“Over the last year we have been engaging with internet companies to make sure that their platforms are not being abused by terrorists and their supporters,” said Home Secretary Amber Rudd. “I have been impressed with their work so far following the launch of the Global Internet Forum to Counter-Terrorism, although there is still more to do, and I hope this new technology the Home Office has helped develop can support others to go further and faster.

“The purpose of these videos is to incite violence in our communities, recruit people to their cause, and attempt to spread fear in our society. We know that automatic technology like this can heavily disrupt the terrorists’ actions, as well as prevent people from ever being exposed to these horrific images.”

Rudd is currently on a visit to San Francisco where she is meeting with the main communication service providers in Silicon Valley to discuss tackling terrorist content online, while also meet with the US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to discuss how the UK and US can work together to keep the internet clear of extremism.