A Florida family is suing Twitter claiming the San Francisco-based social media network is responsible for paving the way for ISIS to spread its international terrorism campaign.

"For years, Twitter has knowingly permitted the terrorist group ISIS to use its social network as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds and attracting new recruits," the lawsuit states. "Without Twitter, the explosive growth of ISIS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible."

Twitter denied the claims and called the lawsuit "meritless."

"We have teams around the world actively investigating reports of rule violations, identifying violating conduct, partnering with organizations countering extremist content online and working with law enforcement entities when appropriate," Twitter said in a statement.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for "severe mental anguish" and "pain and suffering" for plaintiff Tamara Fields whose husband, Lloyd Carl Fields, Jr., was shot and killed in Jordan while helping train police there under a U.S. State Department program. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack.

—Source:  mercurynews.com