Virtual Caliphate: Islamic extremists and their websites
The Centre For Social Cohesion
Here - attached and appended - are some questions and answers put down in the Lords by Baroness Miller on the new Centre for Social Cohesion publication Virtual Caliphate: Islamist extremists and their websites.
The publication is available for download on:Link
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate have they made of the number of websites used by United Kingdom-based Islamic extremists to circulate extremist material; and how many of these they consider to be in contravention of the Terrorism Act 2006. [HL4193]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): We do not keep statistics on the number of websites used by Islamist extremists to circulate extremist material, neither do we keep statistics on which of these contravene the Terrorism Act 2006.
Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 allows for the service of a notice by a constable where he or she is of the opinion that unlawfully terrorism-related material is available on an electronic service such as a website, on the person(s) responsible for that material.
The notice requires that the unlawfully terrorism-related material is removed or modified within two working days. To date, no Section 3 notices have been issued, as the preferred route for removing such material from the internet is informal contact between the police and the ISP and this has so far always been effective.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many individuals have been prosecuted under Sections 1 to 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 for the online encouragement of Islamic extremism, for the dissemination of Islamic extremist material online or for running websites that facilitate such distribution. [HL4194]
Lord West of Spithead: We do not currently hold statistics on the number of individuals prosecuted under Sections 1 to 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 for the online encouragement of Islamic extremism.
The Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General's Office are currently working with the National Co-ordinator for Terrorist Investigations to improve the quality of data on conviction under terrorist legislation and those under other legislation but following a terrorist investigation. As soon as this is complete, a statistical bulletin to cover information on arrests and convictions will be published.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many websites accessible in the United Kingdom contain recordings by Islamic extremist preachers who have been imprisoned in this country for inciting extremism or supporting terrorism; and whether they consider that the dissemination of such material constitutes the glorification of terrorism; and [HL4196]
Whether they consider that websites which disseminate extremist messages from members of al-Qaeda are engaging in the glorification of terrorism; and whether they consider that other sites which advertise, or allow for the advertisement of, those sites are also participating in the glorification of terrorism; and [HL4197]
Whether they consider that the dissemination of Nasheeds which promote violence and extremism constitutes glorification of terrorism. [HL4198]
Lord West of Spithead: It would be inappropriate to comment on particular examples of websites that either do or do not constitute glorification of terrorism. Any prosecutions are a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities and much will depend on the specific circumstances of each individual case.
We do not keep statistics on the number of websites accessible in the United Kingdom that contain recordings by Islamic extremist preachers who have been imprisoned in this country for inciting extremism or supporting terrorism.
Terrorism: Promotion and Glorification
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What systems they have in place for identifying websites that distribute Islamic extremist material; and what resources and personnel they have devoted to this task. [HL4195]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The PREVENT element of Government's CONTEST strategy recognises the important role that extremist websites play in the radicalisation process. The identification and monitoring of such sites is part of our overall PREVENT delivery plan. It would not be in the interest of national security to provide specific detail of the resource and personnel devoted to this task.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the contribution of online libraries containing Islamic extremist material to the radicalisation of British Muslims. [HL4199]
Lord West of Spithead: The Government are concerned about the presence of violent extremist and terrorist material on online libraries in the same way as they are concerned about all forms of terrorist and violent extremist material on the internet.
Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 allows for the service of a notice by a constable where he or she is of the opinion that unlawfully terrorism-related material is available on an electronic service such as a website, on the person(s) responsible for that material.
The notice requires that the unlawfully terrorism-related material is removed or modified within two working days. To date, no Section 3 notices have been issued, as the preferred route for removing such material from the internet is informal contact between the police and the ISP and this has so far always been effective.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether internet service providers are accountable for hosting websites with content that promotes terrorism; and if so, how. [HL4200]
Lord West of Spithead: Internet service providers are not responsible for monitoring the content that they host. However if they are found to be hosting material that encourages terrorism they can be asked to remove it, either informally by the police or formally through the issue of a notice under Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 allows for the service of a notice by a constable where he or she is of the opinion that unlawfully terrorism-related material is available on an electronic service such as a website, on the person(s) responsible for that material.
The notice requires that the unlawfully terrorism-related material is removed or modified within two working days. To date, no Section 3 notices have been issued, as the preferred route for removing such material from the internet is informal contact between the police and the ISP and this has so far always been effective.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the effectiveness of requiring internet service providers to block websites with extremist content in reducing Islamic extremism. [HL4201]
Lord West of Spithead: Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 provides an effective mechanism for the removal of unlawfully terrorism-related material from the internet when it is hosted in the UK. It is more difficult to remove material that is hosted overseas and we are currently at the initial stages of exploring whether asking ISPs to block access to such material would be an effective option for restricting the availability of such material in the UK.
Religious Extremism
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their reaction to the Centre for Social Cohesion's report Virtual caliphate: Islamic extremists and their websites. [HL4203]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Government welcome the report and have noted the recommendations made. The Government are aware that the internet is used by terrorists and violent extremists in the ways outlined by the Centre for Social Cohesion's report. A cross-government strategy is in place with the explicit aim of tackling terrorist and violent extremist use of the internet.
As part of this strategy, we are working both to reduce the amount of terrorist and violent extremist content available online and to work with and through the communities to use the internet as a platform to counter the terrorist and violent extremist message.
Religious Tolerance
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to promote tolerant understanding of Islam on the internet. [HL4202]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Supporting mainstream voices is a key part of the Government’s strategy for preventing terrorism and violent extremism. There are a number of projects supported by government funding aimed at promoting tolerant understanding of Islam on the internet