Prime Minister David Cameron set out a five-year strategy to tackle extremism in Britain on Monday, vowing to take on those responsible for radicalising young British Muslims and demanding that internet companies do more to help.
To tackle what he called the "struggle of our generation" Mr. Cameron outlined a counter-extremism strategy designed to halt the spread in Britain of the radical ideology promoted by Islamic State militants (IS or ISIL) in Syria and Iraq.
He singled out internet companies as needing to do more to help the fight against extremism, especially among young people.
"When it comes to doing what's right for their businesses they're happy to engineer technologies that track our likes and our dislikes," he said.
"But when it comes to doing what's right in the fight against terrorism we too often hear that it's all too difficult - I'm sorry I just don't buy that."
Around 700 Britons are estimated to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join IS militants, some of whom have since returned.
A key aim of the strategy, to be published in full later this year, will be to combat the rise of "home-grown" extremists.
"We have to confront a tragic truth: that there are people born and raised in this country who don't really identify with Britain," he said.
Mr. Cameron also sought to take direct action after a spate of cases involving young Britons leaving their families to link up with IS militants they had contacted through online social networks.
The government would introduce a scheme to enable worried parents to apply directly to get their child's passport cancelled to prevent travel, he said.
