The new director at GCHQ Robert Hannigan has accused internet firms of being "in denial" of the role their networks play in terrorism and demanded they open themselves up more to intelligence services.
By UK Editor Rohit Kachroo
This is a new tone from the new head of GCHQ and language like this from someone like him indicates a new level of fear and frustration about these American internet giants.
In his FT article, Robert Hannigan challenges them after blaming them, saying they should work with the British security services to end the threat posed online by groups like Islamic State.
He says:
Then he makes this direct plea, saying in effect that we cannot do this on our own:
In other words, beating the threat online from the likes of Islamic State is as much about the likes of Google and YouTube as it is MI5 and MI6.
There has been no response so far from the companies, but rarely has a spy chief spoken to directly and so publicly in this fashion against the internet and against groups like Islamic State.
But, a word of caution.
This isn't something that can be ended on someone's laptop in San Francisco.
British police are already overstretched, pulling down over 1,000 items a week.
The Islamic State are finding new ways of posting, of getting their message across the internet every single week as well, and our security services are really playing catch-up.
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