Facebook has helped introduce thousands of Isil extremists to one another, via its "suggested friends" feature.
The London Telegraph reports that the social media giant ‑ already under fire for failing to remove terrorist material ‑ is now accused of actively connecting jihadists around the world, allowing them to develop fresh terror networks and recruit new members.
Researchers, who analysed the Facebook activities of 1,000 Islamic State of Iraq and the supporters in 96 countries, discovered users with radical Islamist sympathies were routinely introduced to one another by the "suggested friends" feature.
Using sophisticated algorithms, Facebook connects people who share interests. The site automatically collects personal information, which is used to direct people towards others they might wish to connect with.
But without effective checks on what information is shared, terrorists are able to exploit the site to contact and communicate with supporters.
