Social media sites agree hate speech code of conduct

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Microsoft have signed up to a code of conduct by the EU that commits to combating online hate speech.

The European Commission said the code includes a pledge by the companies to review all reports of abuse within 24 hours, as well as do more to clamp down on illegal and xenophobic content.

Terror attacks in Belgium were cited as a key reason a clampdown has become more urgent as a means of combating extremism.