According to Reuters, in an article dated October 4, 2010 by Michael Holden, the number of extremist websites has exploded over the past decade. Only now are law enforcement agencies beginning to organize countermeasures to halt the spread of radical websites containing illegal content.
The article paraphrases British Security Minister Pauline Neville-Jones as saying:
"To a considerable extent we are faced by a technology arms race with terrorists. The communications revolution has made it easier for terrorist groups to reach out to vulnerable individuals with their violent extremist ideology and propaganda."
According to Reuters, Ronald Noble, Secretary General of Interpol, recently remarked at a conference of senior Interpol officials that "the number of extremist sites was 'skyrocketing,' expanding from 12 in 1998 to 4,500 in 2006." Secretary General Noble warned those in attendance that "'The threat is global; it is virtual; and it is on our doorsteps.'"
In response, Britain has established the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU). The CTIRU, composed of seven individuals, works on a referral system, where law enforcement agencies and private individuals refer offensive websites to the Unit. The sites are assessed by the CTIRU and, "if necessary, action can be taken under terrorism laws to force websites to remove material or bring prosecutions against those responsible." According to the CTIRU's leader, Detective Chief Inspector Janye Snelgrove, "[t]he aim was 'to try to make the internet . . . a more hostile environment for terrorists and violent extremists to operate.'"
However, Snelgrove noted the line between what some find offensive and what is actually illegal must be respected. "'It's not just about removal and prosecution, it's also about understanding what's out there. We are not policing the internet.'"
"'Personally I feel if there's a discussion going on, whether it be foreign policy or legislation or policing, that actually we engage in that debate and we have a discussion as opposed to trying to remove content. The only content we would remove is that which is unlawful and the threshold for unlawfulness is very high. Material should only be removed when we are sure, otherwise we would be regarded as censoring material and that's not [what] we are here for.'"
According to Reuters, both Snelgrove and Interpol's Noble agree that "'[it] will have to be governments overseas and the UK government who need to work together to combat this issue over time.'"
The full text of the article can be found at the link above, or here.
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