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Britain
Virtual Caliphate
2008-06-24
Virtual Caliphate examines how Islamic extremists based in the UK have set up several websites in response to British anti-terrorism measures put in place following the London bombings of 5 July 2005. The report examines how these websites allow extremists to continue spreading their pro-jihadist ideas, organising themselves and recruiting new followers.

The report focuses on Islambase.co.uk, the most important extremist website for British radicals which is run by former members of radical groups like al-Muhajiroun and distributes communications from deported and exiled radical leaders such as Omar Bakri and Abdullah Faisal. The report also uses an online discussion on the Islambase forum about usersÂ’ favourite Islamic websites to catalogue and examine other sites popular with British extremists.

In light of this, the report calls on the government to:

- Prosecute individuals who run the websites or distribute pro-terrorism materials through them. The 2006 Terrorism Act specifically enables the prosecution of those who distribute material which glorifies terrorism attacks or is likely to encourage readers to undertake such actions.

- Prosecute Internet Services Providers (ISPs). Under the 2006 Terrorism Act, ISPs and other commercial organisations can be held liable for hosting websites whose content promotes terrorism. Some ISPs – like BT Group – already use a web filter called Cleanfeed in order to block websites which host unacceptable images of child pornography or sexual abuse.

- Explore whether laws used to tackle internet use by paedophiles can be adapted to tackle terrorism. For example, laws to tackle paedophilia allow prosecution of those who distribute and possess paedophilic images. They also criminalise online ‘grooming’ of children. Individuals found guilty can be banned from using the internet.

- Block foreign-based websites. In extreme cases, the government can ask UK-based Internet Service Providers (ISP) block foreign websites which aim to incite terrorist violence in the UK. Some European governments have already considered similar steps.


Failure to take action against these websites and the individuals who run them put the British public at risk of further terrorist attacks.
I'm no technical genius, but I could figure out how to circumvent many of these suggestions. Getting into the censorship business is tricky. And it seems the dange of another attack arises more from the readership of such sites than the producers. Instead, how about a database of those who frequent the sites?
Posted by:Nimble Spemble

#4  Instead, how about a database of those who frequent the sites?

If MI-5, MI-6, Scotland Yard and the local police forces are not already doing that, they should be cited as criminally negligent. But likely the U.S. has also been collecting that information -- at least connected to any electrons that pass through the U.S. -- since about 9/12/01.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-06-24 17:53  

#3  Compiling lists of people who frequent sites (such as Rantburg, LGF, Jawa Report, or Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler) - all of which could easly be considered hate sites by organizations like the 'Canadian Human Rights Commission' - can be particulary risky.

We definitively don't want to go there.

Simply take this piece and replace 'terrorism' with 'racism' or 'religion' and you suppress any non-sanctioned discussion of the cult of Islam and just about all of us would be lined up against the wall of the HRC.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-06-24 11:01  

#2  It's a trap!
Posted by: Excalibur   2008-06-24 10:43  

#1  Already being done. Thing is, we dont really want legislation to criminalize this kind of activity, which would put most RB users at risk of prosecution. This article discusses potential new legislation that would be useful against future cases such as that of Babar Ahmed.
Posted by: Admiral Allan Ackbar   2008-06-24 08:58  

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