Britain's Theresa May Seeks TV, Online Ban on Extremists

Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May said Tuesday that a future conservative government would seek new powers to ban extremists from appearing on television or posting their ideas on social media.

Speaking at a Tory conference, May said that if the conservatives win the general elections next year, the party will introduce new powers to disrupt people who spread poisonous hatred even if they are not breaking any laws.

If the law is implemented, police can apply for a court order to end the harmful activities of an extremist. The police can restrict an individual's movements, prevent him/her from speaking in public and even stop the person from publishing articles on the internet as well as in print. They also will be prevented from broadcasting their views in any media, reports the Associated Press.

Pointing out the importance of implementing the internet monitoring legislation, May said that the National Crime Agency dropped nearly twenty cases within six months because of missing communications data. She also said the metropolitan police had to drop twelve cases in a three month period because of lack of communications data, reports The Telegraph.

"Innocent people are in danger right now," she said. "If we do not act, we risk sleepwalking into a society in which crime can no longer be investigated and terrorists can plot their murderous schemes undisrupted," she added.

Regarding the threat posed by the Islamic State, May said the militant group may acquire nuclear weapons if they were allowed to flourish in Iraq and Syria.

She said the Islamic State could get possession of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and become the world's first truly terrorist state.

Emphasizing the threat to Britain from the Islamic State, May said the group was operating within a few hours of flying time from Britain.

 "This is not somebody else's battle. They have made clear their ambitions and they have made us their enemies," May said.

"And the lesson of history tells us that when our enemies say they want to attack us, they mean it. We must not flinch. We must not shy away from our responsibility," she said, reports The Telegraph.