Tech Against Terrorism has raised urgent concerns about the growing threat posed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) online, following MI5 Director General Ken McCallum’s warning about rising extremism and youth radicalisation.
Key points:
- ISKP targets: ISKP’s online propaganda campaigns are increasingly targeting UK and Western audiences, with more content in English than ever before. The group’s narratives are fuelled by historical and contemporary UK involvement in conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.
- Online propaganda: ISKP's propaganda is directly linked to operational threats, including plots targeting public spaces in the UK and Europe.
- Improved content moderation needed: Tech platforms are urged to increase efforts to monitor and remove terrorist content, with regulators needing stronger powers to enforce accountability.
London, 8 October 2024 - Tech Against Terrorism, led by Executive Director Adam Hadley CBE, responds to MI5 Director General Ken McCallum’s recent speech highlighting the escalating threats posed by online extremism and youth radicalisation. The organisation emphasises the critical and growing threat from the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), urging immediate and coordinated action to counter their sophisticated online propaganda and mobilisation efforts.
Statement from Adam Hadley, Executive Director:
“We are witnessing an alarming surge in terrorist content and disinformation online, and it’s disheartening to see that many platforms seem indifferent to this growing crisis,” said Adam Hadley, Executive Director of Tech Against Terrorism. “Our open society is uniquely vulnerable to manipulation by nation-states and terrorists. Information warfare is just as important as traditional military warfare, and in that sense, we are already losing the battle. The recent warnings from MI5 highlight the urgency of this issue. We need renewed political focus to address these threats. Military leaders must recognise the importance of the digital front, the police need more resources to tackle online crimes, and regulators need stronger powers to hold tech platforms to account. At the same time, we should acknowledge and applaud those platforms that are diligently working to combat this threat. It’s time for a collective effort to address this escalating problem before it’s too late.”
A Critical Response to MI5’s Warning:
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum revealed a troubling surge in terrorist activities in the UK, noting that approximately 13% of those investigated for involvement in terrorism are under 18—a threefold increase in the last three years. Tech Against Terrorism shares these concerns and stresses that:
- Renaissance of terrorist content online: Not only ISKP but also Hamas, Hizballah, the Houthis, Al Shabaab, and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are all regrouping online and successfully sharing terrorist content.
- Sophisticated ISKP Propaganda Campaigns: ISKP is actively targeting diaspora communities with customised, multi-lingual messaging through robust propaganda channels on messaging apps and social media. Their focus on the UK surpasses that on other Western nations. ISKP now publishes more propaganda in more languages, particularly English, than any other IS branch since the Caliphate era, facilitating the incitement of violence, fundraising, and support building among UK and Western populations. This has led to incidents such as the arrest of two UK citizens attempting to join ISKP, highlighting the group’s enhanced ability to mobilise effectively.
- Enhanced Operational Threats: ISKP’s growing propaganda apparatus supports its campaigns to incite violence, guide supporters in plotting attacks, and execute intense operations targeting public venues such as football stadiums in the UK and Europe. Their UK-specific grievances—including accusations of British involvement in the creation of Israel and Pakistan, the British Empire’s invasion of Afghanistan, colonialism in Muslim lands in Africa, participation in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, contemporary military interventions in Iraq and Syria, and UK support for Israel in the Gaza war—fuel their extremist narrative and recruitment efforts.
A Call for Renewed Focus and Accountability:
- Recognising the Digital Battlefield: Information warfare is just as crucial as traditional military efforts. Military leaders must acknowledge the importance of combating adversaries not just on the ground but also in the digital realm to prevent groups like ISKP, Hizballah, and the Houthis from using the internet with impunity.
- Empowering Law Enforcement and Regulators: Police forces need more resources to investigate online crimes effectively. Regulators require stronger powers to hold tech platforms accountable when they fail to act against the spread of extremist content and disinformation.
- Holding Tech Companies Responsible: Standards are slipping across the board. Tech platforms must step up their efforts to monitor and remove terrorist content and disinformation. Platforms that are actively combating extremism deserve recognition and support.
- Recognising Positive Efforts: We commend those platforms that are diligently working to combat extremist content. Their efforts demonstrate that effective moderation is achievable and essential.