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Social Networking: Radicalism

Answer

We know terrorist and extremist groups make extensive use of the internet and social media to spread their propaganda. The PM-chaired Extremism Taskforce established in the wake of the Woolwich attack made a number of recommendations for combating extremist propaganda, particularly online. The report from the ETF can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-extremism-in-the-uk-report-by-the-extremism-taskforce

Under the Government's Prevent strategy, which aims to stop people becoming involved in and supporting terrorism, our approach to challenging extremism online involves working with industry, law enforcement, civil society groups and the public. We have worked with

digital communications experts to help civil society groups exploit the potential of the internet, and we will be expanding this work in line with ETF recommendations.

This Government takes action against illegal terrorist content online. The police's Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) has removed over 26,000 pieces of illegal terrorist content online since February 2010. Under the proposed EFT measures, we are looking to further restrict access to illegal content hosted overseas. We are also working with industry to identify harmful extremist material to include within family friendly filters, to try to bring consistency to industry terms of use in respect of extremist content and to make it easier for the public to refer material of concern.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

191190; 577 cc367-8W

Session

2013-14

Subjects

Radicalism Disinformation Social media

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk