EU boss wants to censor the internet

Franco Frattini wants to prevent people searching for 'dangerous words' on the internet

European Union Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini has called for ISPs to censor internet searches in an effort to stop terrorists gathering information.

Frattini said in a telephone interview with Reuters that freedom of information should take second place to denying terrorists access to bomb making instructions or other information that could be useful.

"I intend to carry out a clear exploring exercise with the private sector on how it is possible to use technology to prevent people from using or searching dangerous words like 'bomb', 'kill', 'genocide' or 'terrorism'," he said.

"Instructing people how to make a bomb has nothing to do with freedom of expression, or the freedom of informing people. The right balance is to give priority to the protection of absolute rights and, first of all, the right to life."

Frattini confirmed that this will be one of the strategies to counter terrorism that he will present to EU member states in November.

While academic information or historical information would be allowed, actual instructions would not, Frattini explained.

The Commissioner gave no information as to how this would be achieved.