Radicalisation in the Digital Era: The Use of the Internet in 15 Cases of Terrorism and Extremism
"This paper presents the results from exploratory primary research into
the role of the internet in the radicalisation of 15 terrorists and
extremists in the UK. In recent years, policymakers, practitioners and
the academic community have begun to examine how the internet influences
the process of radicalisation: how a person comes to support terrorism
and forms of extremism associated with terrorism. This study advances
the evidence base in the field by drawing on primary data from a variety
of sources: evidence presented at trial, computer registries of
convicted terrorists, interviews with convicted terrorists and
extremists, as well as police senior investigative officers responsible
for terrorist investigations. The 15 cases were identified by the
research team together with the UK Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) and UK Counter Terrorism Units (CTU). The research team gathered
primary data relating to five extremist cases (the individuals were part
of the Channel programme, a UK government intervention aimed at
individuals identified by the police as vulnerable to violent
extremism), and ten terrorist cases (convicted in the UK), all of which
were anonymised. Our research supports the suggestion that the internet
may enhance opportunities to become radicalised and provide a greater
opportunity than offline interactions to confirm existing beliefs.
However, our evidence does not necessarily support the suggestion that
the internet accelerates radicalisation or replaces the need for
individuals to meet in person during their radicalisation process.
Finally, we didn't find any supporting evidence for the concept of
self-radicalisation through the internet."
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