Britain plans jail sentences of up to 15 years for streaming extremist content

The British government has said it will make streaming extremist content an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said on Tuesday that the law should be toughened to include "people who repeatedly view terrorist content online".

"I want to make sure those who view despicable terrorist content online, including jihadi websites, far-right propaganda and bomb-making instructions, face the full force of the law," Rudd said.

"There is currently a gap in the law around material [that] is viewed or streamed from the internet without being permanently downloaded," she added.

It is currently illegal to download or store material that encourages violent attacks.

Britain has seen five deadly attacks this year, including vehicle and knife rampages and a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Rudd told the governing Conservative Party conference in Manchester that seven other plots had been stopped.

She said tougher laws were needed because there has been "a shift toward crude attacks" with shorter timescales.

Following a rise in criminal acid attacks, Rudd said she would ban the sale of acids to people under the age of 18.