During the meeting convened in the wake of deadly terror attacks in Paris, the ministers considered strengthening measures to monitor web content, arguing the Internet is both a source of radicalization and a communication channel, Europe Online Magazine reported.
It was suggested that online content that breached the code of conduct by companies such as Google should be flagged for deletion. The measure would be "major progress," EU counterterrorism chief Giles de Kerchove said, suggesting that European law enforcement agency Europol lead the operation.
The issue of homegrown jihadists has gained prominence in Europe following a string of deadly attacks in Paris in early January, in which France-born gunmen who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State extremist group killed 17 people.
On January 13, Europol reported that as many as 5,000 radicalized European nationals had traveled to the Middle East to join jihadist ranks. Western governments have repeatedly expressed their concern over the threat posed by jihadist fighters returning to Europe.
