The new frontline in the battle against ISIL has become the internet with the terrorist group proving smarter than states at using social media to radicalise vulnerable potential followers, a counter-terrorism conference heard Thursday.
The process of grooming an impressionable young recruit to the point where they can carry out a fatal attack is “almost too quick to catch without the most extraordinarily intrusive surveillance techniques” that are unacceptable in modern democracies, according to a senior British security official.
“It’s the online space that’s the front line today,” said Patrick McGuinness, the UK government’s deputy national security adviser. More than 300,000 pieces of online content have been removed after they were flagged up to firms by a specialist UK police unit.
Mr McGuinness said work in rooting out extremists within communities was “secondary” to the online threat. “Until Islamic State cannot occupy space online freely, we will not be safe,” he told a counterterrorism conference in London organised by security thinktank the Royal United Services Institute.
He cited the work of Google in removing all videos linked to the Anwar Al Awlaki, the American propagandist for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula who has been repeatedly cited as a key influence for Islamist militants even after he was killed in a US drone strike in 2011. He said the companies had to recognise “handsome jihadis with pussy cats” were grooming young people for the ranks of ISIL.
The British government has been at the forefront of efforts to press technology firms to pull extremist content from their platforms, with prime minister Theresa May and the French leader Emmanuel Macron warning earlier this year of potential criminal charges if the companies ignored their warnings.
Europol, the European Union’s police intelligence hub, is working with 60 social media platforms around the world to swiftly identify and remove extremist content.
Terrorist groups have been much more effective than states at using social media to get their message across, said Franz-Michael Mellbin, the EU special representative to Afghanistan. “With all our resources we can’t come up with a clear answer to that.”
Britain has been hit by five significant terrorist attacks this year leaving more than 30 people injured and hundreds more injured. Police said a feature of the attacks has been the use of the internet to procure bomb-making instructions, send encrypted messages and share attack plans.
Law enforcement officials said that most companies were cooperating, but encrypted messaging system Telegram had resisted approaches because of privacy concerns and fears of government snooping.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
RESULT
Deportivo La Coruna 2 Barcelona 4
Deportivo: Perez (39'), Colak (63')
Barcelona: Coutinho (6'), Messi (37', 81', 84')
