DTIC ADA494249: Countering Internet Extremism

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

Countering Internet Extremism
By Mr. Timothy L. Thomas
Editorial Abstract: The author examines the modern informational environment, and introduces the concept of contemporary
extremist work as a type of living influence laboratory. He focuses on a specific Web-based counter-ideology example, then
presents a methodology to address specific cyber audiences.
Introduction other such methods have been effective. • In 2003 the US Army developed
Recruiters even hand out CDs and DVDs Counterterrorism Center at West Point,
Unless the US crafts a strategy of key speeches and events, at low or no to follow extremist thought by looking
that stymies long-term ideological cost, further supporting this cognitive at the books terrorists put online
radicalization among large numbers of movement. • In 2004-2005 the Defense Department
Muslim youth, America’s ‘long war’ The coalition response to these hired contractors such as the Lincoln
against terrorism is likely to be just measures has been constant but sporadic Group to find stringers to write pro-
that. in the types of organizations involved. Western stories
Several issues of seemingly benign First, there is the usual list of players with • In 2005-2006, DoD conceived and
importance eventually emerged as information operations expertise that developed Human Terrain Teams, tasked
significant activities when the US and have been involved since the beginning: to interact with the population, to better
its coalition partners went to war in the 1st IO Command, psychological understand the culture and traditions of
Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003 and 2001. operations groups, the Joint Information the area
One of those issues was extremists’ Operations Warfare Command, the • In 2006 an Internet Radicalization
use of the Internet—that transnational National Security Agency, DIA and CIA Task Force was created at the Homeland
communication device. Warning signs analysts, US think tanks such as RAND, Security Policy Institute, to develop a
of this emerging capability and its and many others. Second, there has been report on how to de-radicalize the Web;
influence on events were observed earlier a constant effort by non-government the report was delivered to Congress
during the Chechen-Russian conflict in and government agencies to relook the • Specific websites were developed to
the 1990s and in early 2000. Chechen problem of extremist organizations for combat terrorist use of the Internet such
use of the Web enabled them to win over decades now. A host of new measures as [email protected]
public opinion in the early stages of and efforts have joined this group since • US government elements developed
the conflict, and secure an information 1989: a strategic communications plan.
warfare victory. • In 1989 Ben Venzke developed Some of these groups have been more
Extremists’ use of the Internet has IntelCenter, which has monitored Al successful than others. Some merely
developed rapidly since the Chechen- Qaeda and other terrorist movement monitor the situation while others make
Russian conflict. Now they are more worldwide both before and after 9/11 recommendations to counter extremist
creative, and more importantly, more • In 1998 the Middle East Media use of the Internet.
persuasive in their methods to recruit Research Institute (MEMRI) was The difficulty in successfully
members, gain financial support, and founded. It monitors and analyzes neutering extremist use of the Internet
provide proof of success. The extremists’ various trends, to include terrorism, in is evident from our daily experiences.
task has been made easier since coalition the Middle East press. It has an Islamist For example, in spite of all of these
forces are stationed in countries where Website Monitoring project resources—plus all of the money the
their understanding of culture and the • In 1999 the job of Undersecretary west has thrown into information (read
means of spreading information is less of State for Public Diplomacy and Internet) security—an individual known
informed. Extremists, on the other Public Affairs was created (occupied by as Irhabi 007, sitting in a room in London
hand, tap into both culture and media Charlotte Beers, Margaret Tutwiler, and in front of a monitor, still operated
methods. Karen Hughes, three very powerful but successfully and was effective until the
Extremists have demonstrated their marginally effective undersecretaries, time of his capture. The advantages of
military capabilities online (their use of from October 2001-November 2007) to using the Internet (anonymity, use of cut
video to demonstrate the effectiveness develop a State Department effort to put -outs, masking of server use, movement
of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) out the US message to the Arab world, from personal computer to cyber café,
and sniper attacks against coalition forces mostly via TV and radio stations etc.) enable extremists to make it very
come to mind) and in their use of clerics • In 2002 Rita Katz and Josh Devon difficult to find them.
and imams to justify their actions to the formed the Search for International This article will examine briefly
Arab world. Internet videos, postings on Terrorist Entities (SITE) intelligence the environment in which extremists
You Tube, recruiting on My Space, and group, to follow terrorist activities now operate (ideological and technical),
16 Winter 2009
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outline what issues we must counter, being producers, users, and interpreters available as freeware, or via software
and summarize/review efforts to date to (through interactions such as blogs) of packages such as Windows, Movie
counter, neuter, or cauterize extremists’ information that shapes or socializes the Maker, and Adobe Acrobat. All can
use of the Internet by coalition forces followers’ world views. Theories are be downloaded at will or purchased at
and governments worldwide. Progress tested and discoveries made that have minimal cost. Such applications do not
is being made, but it is uncertain if the real world consequences, which may require the expense of a college course
restrictions on Western democracies or may not be in line with the common to access them, just access to the Web.
in particular (legal, moral, etc.) and good. Access to these devices empowers The systems that run the extremists’
the difficulties in countering Internet an extremist’s active operations. One can experiments were created by others, and
advantages will ever be able to fully even use the computer monitor to watch provided free of charge.
contain online extremism. Al Qaeda TV right at home. Extremists not only share our
The labs can explain why, how, networks but easily exploit them. It
The Environment
when, and even where to fight in an would be fair to state that extremists go
Information technologies enable open or anonymous manner. These labs by the law of “we can use your systems,
extremists to achieve many goals that serve as cyber mobilizers for people of you can’t use ours,” as witnessed by
would have been unimaginable in the like thought, but they cyber mobilize extremists’ use of Yahoo’s free online
1970s. These technologies have been fence sitters as well. This is performed newsgroups (to distribute communiqués),
used to initiate IEDs, to communicate through personal messages or mass MySpace, and YouTube among many
(via cell phones or on the Internet), to circulation Internet journals or papers. others. Stateless information labs bypass
employ high-tech deception operations, The lab is an environment where cultural censorship and regulations as well as
to filter news and information for the knowledge of the target audience is traditional cultural norms of restraint,
people of the Middle East, and to and do what they can to prevent
influence Western opinion. Such non-sympathizers from accessing
flexibility allows development their net niche.
of new uses as required. Yet the Third, just as plants need
influence aspect of information fertile soil, the environment
technologies merits the greatest must possess a rich and adaptive
attention. ideological atmosphere. Without
Several elements of the this, it is impossible to fertilize
environment have changed the cognitive aspects of their
dramatically since the 1970s, and target audience. Instigators create
strongly support an extremist’s this atmosphere by developing
influence of cognitive activities. specific images and messages in
First, information laboratories their information labs, offering
(computers) inhabit our work their slanted and prejudiced
Persuasion helps counter extremism. (Defense Link)
place, homes, and relaxation perceptions of reality to selected
stops (coffee shops, etc.). It is here vitally important in developing both the target audiences. Sophisticated tools
that extremists’ influence operations technological support and know-how/ mentioned above make this job easier.
take place. A ‘lab’ used to be a place message appropriate for each target. Content filters ensure only certain
in a scientific research organization Information labs in the right hands viewpoints are available on some sites.
or a university where one went to provide sustenance to the cause, offer Cognitive activities are sprinkled with
test theories and make discoveries meaning to one’s existence, provide warnings about the dangers of “other
using Bunsen burners and microscopes. proof of success, and offer personal thoughts or ideologies” to one’s soul
Entire buildings were assembled to examples of heroism and martyrdom. and afterlife. Al Qaeda and other
run simulations. The modern day These experimental workshops are the insurgent groups offer specific and
“information lab” consists of a desk or combustion chambers that spawn interest unique ideologies that fit selected organic
laptop. Experiments can be run on real in events, and motivate supporters to social movements.
life situations (via virtual environments extraordinary actions. This is a persuasive Fourth, the environment is
like SIMS and Second Life) and perform form of effects-based operations of the organized differently than in the past.
much of the work that simulation labs mind. The formation of radical media brigades
used to do. Images can be manipulated Second, there is minimal or no indicates creation of a new combat
according to the creator’s wish or to fit cost involved in using tools to shape space, wherein the rules of civilized
a product. Information labs move the the environment. In the past, tools news organizations do not apply. For
individual from being just a TV, radio, used in laboratories were expensive. that reason, the propaganda videos and
or newspapers information consumer, to Now information laboratory tools are photos are often of a shocking nature
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in regard to beheading, throat slitting, tools. First, media resources can be 6. Al Qaeda friendly news cast
and other ‘online slaughter’ techniques. used to establish “resistance blockades” calls that criticize Arab governments
This new combat space is a cognitive that keep the enemy (Western countries) collaborating with Jews and Christians
battle space without laws, rules, and from corrupting Islamic institutions, and discuss goals of the jihadi movement
regulations—operating via manipulation, organizations, and ideas while or establishment of the Voice of the
filters, and fear. radicalizing Muslim masses. Second, Caliphate.
Further, this environment is in addition to the main platforms of 7. Mobile Internet services offering
a transnational communication and the Internet and satellite TV, al-Suri selected news content via cell phones.
influence network. It empowers anyone recommends sending written statements 8. Extremist links to several Al Qaeda
with an opinion on anything to post that call on Muslims to join the Global magazines containing instructions
their thoughts, and may be read by one Islamic Resistance; to publish works on on communications, tactics, and
individual or by millions. Revered military and training curricula (e-mail explosives
authority figures such as religious leaders contact lists, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.); 9. Extremists links to instructions on
can lead followers to specific websites or to translate works into other languages; jihadi websites on how to use software
postings. However, anonymous postings and to disseminate scholarly writing that packages and encryption devices and
can also have tremendous impact on supports the spirit of resistance, including
video editing
entire groups of people, if presented opinions regarding the enemies of jihad.
10. Computer programmer launches of
properly (that is, with a message that
stand alone Web browsing software that
strikes a nerve in a specific cultural
allows searches only on particular sites.
setting). Chatrooms or bulletin boards
These efforts to bound jihadi ideological
host the bulk of such postings.
space by intellectually separating them
This experimental lab in your living
from other areas of cyberspace allows
room has other uses as well. It can
them to become more dogmatic and
intimidate or taunt rivals with the click of
isolated
a mouse, persuade fence-sitters to accept
11. Extremist protocol offers on
a cause based on the evidence presented,
how to safely use the Internet. These
allow access to some information but
countermeasures help identify how
deny access to other sources, and allow
other governments penetrate their use
for the social networking of criminals
of software chat programs (such as
and other extremists. These virtual
Microsoft Messenger and PalTalk)
transnational labs have eliminated
and advise readers not to use Saudi
much of the need for physical training
Arabian e-mail addresses but rather
camps (due to the spread of online
Al Qaeda on the Web. (Alneda.com) use anonymous Hotmail and Yahoo
training material) and thus inhibit law
accounts.
enforcement agencies from detecting Obviously analysts should conduct an
12. Extremist posts on how to use
where, and in what form, extremist in-depth study of al-Suri’s rhetoric and
video games to reach the young, and
groups operate. ideological reasoning instead of the
instill in them the hope of reaching
short, truncated list offered here.
What Must Be Countered? extremist goals such as a global Islamic
With regard to technical issues,
caliphate. The more realistic the game,
To counter terrorist use of the Web, Jarret Brachman, Director of Research
the less dissonance players feel between
it helps to understand the logic that at the Combating Terrorism Center at the
the game and the world around them.
informs an extremist’s use of technology. United States Military Academy, West
Video games harmonize reality with
One could literally examine hundreds of Point New York, listed twelve key aspects
books and speeches. Since the purpose of a terrorist’s use of technology: the need to catalyze awareness of the
of this work is examining ways to counter 1. Extremist posts of insurgent ‘job Muslim requirement to resist.
an extremist’s Internet use of the Internet openings’ on the Web To be successful, Coalition members
rather than counter-ideology as a whole, 2. Extremist posts of motivational must find ways to counter these uses.
we’ll look at only one example. The imagery that cyber mobilizes insurgents Further, we must find ways to counter
work of ideologue Abu Musab al-Suri or wanna-be insurgents jihadi-themed books, recruitment,
(also known as Mustafa ‘Abd alQadir 3. Extremist downloads of scripted and propaganda materials that can be
Mustafa Husayn, Umar ‘Abd al-Hakim, talking points about religious justifications downloaded via cell phone.
and Mustafa Setmariam Nassar), is for waging jihad Another good extremist technology
representative of this ideology. 4. Breaking news posted from a reference comes from author Remy
Al-Suri believes jihad must be jihadist point of view Mauduit, editor of the US Air Force’s
comprehensive and utilize military, 5. Extremist posts of links to attack Air & Space Power Journal French
political, media, civil, and ideological videos edition. Mauduit spent five years in
18 Winter 2009
an insurgency and guerrilla leadership 8. Using captured computer hard drives TV studio, a European liaison position,
position during the 1954-1962 Algerian to learn how to develop counter-messages a “pre-active” approach to media, a TV
War, and published a book on insurgency to extremists plans or speeches adviser position, and a Senior Adviser
and counterinsurgency based upon his 9. Releasing seized videotapes on Muslim engagement. In spite of this
hands-on experience. In 2008 he wrote showing terrorist brainwashing sessions rather broad range of options offered
on the effects-based information battle in with children (extremist “camps” for by Graffy, Goodall finds the Deputy’s
the Muslim world, including issues that children, hate cartoons, etc.) and training remarks out of touch with US strategic
Westerners must learn to counter—such sessions with children teaching them to communication needs. His take on the
as the seemingly benign Islamic rhetoric kidnap or kill problem is that it is more important to use
that serves as a cover for nationalist, anti- 10. Releasing letters that demonstrate active engagement through a pragmatic
imperialist, and reformist objectives. poor morale within their organization complexity model than to merely ‘get
Such messages include denunciations 11. Looking at a militant’s culture, visual,’ or ‘get the message out.’
of the injustices, corruption, and tyranny family associations, or religion to Marc Sageman, a forensic
that have characterized the reigning determine what dishonors them and psychiatrist and former CIA case officer,
oligarchies in the Islamic world. undermines their rhetoric on the Web is recognized for his work on extremist
Methods To Counter Or Neuter 12. Taking away extremists’ popular or mindsets, and potential ways to influence
Extremists’ Use Of The Internet theological legitimacy for actions such as them. In March/April 2008 he wrote
the moral legitimacy of using weapons that in the past mobilization occurred by
There is no shortage of ideas on
of mass destruction face-to-face networks that caused a small
how to counter or neuter an extremists’
13. Persuading “extremist support number of people to become extremists.
use of the Internet. Of course, none can
networks” to stop offering assistance Today, online radicalization substitutes
be designed to totally eliminate such
to extremists and holding these support for face-to-face radicalization, allowing
use. Yet several sources offered below
networks accountable if they do not extremists to get support and validation.
provide differing perspectives on how to
14. Perfecting technical systems that Sageman notes these virtual marketplaces
counter extremist Internet use.
identify the source of unconventional of extremist ideas are the invisible hand
A 2008 New York Times article
weapons or their components. that is organizing extremist activities
indirectly offers some methods. Writers
A March 2008 effort, attributed worldwide. The leader of this violent
Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker discussed
only to “US authorities,” was “implied” social movement—attracting younger
weaknesses of insurgent movements, and
from a post to the Islamist website http:// members and now women—is not a
while not presented as counteractions,
www.al-farooq.net/ (currently hosted person, but “the collective discourse”
these are easily derived:
by SoftLayer Technologies Inc., Dallas, appearing on half a dozen influential
1. Muting Al Qaeda messages (ways
Texas, USA). In a message posted forums. Each network acts according to
to do so were not offered)
27 February, administrators claimed its own understanding, however, and Al
2. Turning jihadi movements own
US authorities had contacted both the Qaeda Central cannot “impose discipline
weaknesses against the movement
website administrator and its US host to on these third-wave wannabes, mostly
3. Illuminating Al Qaeda errors
pressure them to remove jihadi content, because it does not know who they
4. Planting bogus e-mail messages
saying that if they do not, the site will be are.” Thus their collective actions do
and website postings to sow confusion,
shut down. Actually, this can be a very not amount to much. Sageman believes
dissent, and distrust among militant
effective way to keep server operators these people thrive only at the abstract
organizations
from allowing someone to use their fantasy level, making them vulnerable
5. Amplifying the speeches and
network. to whatever may diminish their appeal
writings of prominent Islamic clerics who
renounce terrorist violence; persuading Earlier, in February 2008, Colleen among the young. Thus Sageman sees
Muslims not to support terrorists through Graffy, Deputy Assistant Secretary for real opportunity for countering these
messages such as that from Abdul-Aziz European and Eurasian Affairs, US movements if we construct the correct
el-Sherif, who wrote a book renouncing State Department, was quoted by author message, particularly if these separate
violent jihad on legal and religious Bud Goodall as asserting that the main groups cannot coalesce into a physical
grounds problem with US public diplomacy movement.
6. Identifying territory that terrorists is “getting the word out.” Successes Sageman concludes that a leaderless
hold dear, to include emotional territory in the public diplomacy world from social movement is at the mercy of its
such as a terrorists reputation or Graffy’s view include nine elements: participants. The main threat to the
credibility with Muslims, and damaging a European Union news alert system, movement’s existence is that its appeal
that territory a rapid response unit, a streamlined is self-limiting. What appeals to one
7. Identifying and manipulating or approval process for ambassadors’ media generation may not appeal to the next.
destroying terrorist terrain, which at the appearance requests, new media hubs Extremists and their messages must be
moment is the Web in Brussels, Dubai, and London, a new demilitarized (deny young men the glory
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of fighting uniformed soldiers of the sole failed to effectively counter portrayals or delegitimize extremist use of the
remaining superpower) and reduced to of America as an aggressive, predatory Internet. First, the State Department
the image of common criminals stripped force that poses a threat to Islam. maintains a website in a number of
of glory; extremism is about death and The US government should stand up languages devoted to countering false
destruction, not fame. Counterextremism an independent agency to plan and stories that appear in extremist sources,
voices must encourage opportunity orchestrate a coherent, national-level and countering disinformation that may
and reject violence. It is necessary to strategic communication strategy. All end up in mainstream media. Second,
show young people they can address of this assumes, she notes, that the US military units conduct operational level
hopes, dreams, and grievances, without government can compete with the global influence operations for a long period of
violence. information market. time. Lachow and Richardson discussed
Remy Mauduit, noted above, Frank Cilluffo, Chairman of the utility of viewing the War of Ideas
recommended that the Department of the Homeland Security Institute’s as equal in importance to military and
Defense establish a permanent Islamic “Radicalization of the Internet” project, law enforcement aspects of the fight.
Information Center to assess, develop, discussed his commission’s findings in Finally, they recommended trying to find
disseminate, and coordinate information IO Sphere journal [Summer 2007, p. 14.] specific language with which to label
to the international Muslim public. Long He noted that there are several ways to Salafist extremists, such as irhabists
term objectives would be to promote neuter terrorist use of the Web. His ideas (terrorist) conducting hirabah (unholy
democracy, good governance, freedom, were both more general, and yet in line war) instead of muhjahideen conducting
and human rights in the Muslim world. with many recommendations that were jihad; they recommended promoting the
Short-range objectives would be letting to appear in 2008: views of well-respected Muslim clerics
the Muslim world know that the US 1. Understand the narrative who counter terrorist claims. Lachow
continues to help it through repetitive and context of an extremist, why it and Richardson support attempts to
broadcasting of the various humanitarian resonates undermine Internet-based terrorist
missions it organizes and runs. Themes 2. Use all resources—no agency influence operations and counters to a
to use and target audiences are: owns the mission terrorist’s operational use of the Net.
• Supporting civil-society institutions 3. Defeat networks with networks, Conclusions
•Supporting both secularists and not a supercomputer
The consensus of experts appears
moderate Islamists 4. Use all elements of statecraft, not
to be that the use of secular or moderate
• Discrediting extremist ideology just the military
religious figures or scholars have the
• Delegitimizing individuals and 5. Remove terrorist masterminds most potential to effectively counter
positions associated with extremists 6. Offer opportunity to those who
extremist Internet use. Such efforts
by challenging their interpretation of could be seduced by a terrorist message
could help to stifle some of the issues
Islam and promoting divisions among 7. Allow former jihadists to come
that extremists magnify in the Internet
extremists by encouraging journalists forward and denounce terrorism
environment (death and destruction,
to investigate issues of corruption, 8. Substitute a new concept for
Koranic verses of motivation). Getting
hypocrisy, and immorality in extremist the term GWOT (which to Cilluffo is
secular or moderate figures online can
and terrorist circles. as bad as the term crusader since it help counter an insurgent’s recruiting
• Focusing on young people, Muslim allows extremists to feel like warriors). ability, and search for financial
minorities in the West, women, and Terminology matters donations. Notably, several religious
the pious traditionalist populations, 9. Require Islamic scholars to offer figures have recently been highlighted
educating Muslims and non-Muslims a counter dialogue as contributing to this effort. Writing
alike on critical questions related to 10. Find how to prevent someone from prison in November 2007, Sayyid
the compatibility between Islam and from going from a sympathizer, to an Imam al-Sharif published the book On
democracy. activist, to indiscriminate violence. Rationalizations on Jihad in Egypt and
Finally in February 2008, journalist Discrediting extremism through religion the World. Al-Sharif was a former aide
Sharon Weinberger wrote that the gravest is one option to Al Qaeda second in command, Ayman
strategic lapse of the US government 11. Drive wedges between and among al-Zawahiri. His counterextremism
has been its anemic—if not self- extremist and terrorist organizations piece states it is religiously unlawful
destructive—effort to create and exploit (isolate planners from organizations, to use violence to overthrow Islamic
divisions within and among jihadi organizations from one another, and from governments. Another important figure,
groups, discredit their ideology, promote society at large). Sheikh Abd Al-Aziz bin Abdallah Aal
alternative Islamic voices, and isolate Also in 2007, Irving Lachow Al-Sheikh, highest religious authority
Islamic extremists. Weinberger seems and Courtney Richardson, writing in in Saudi Arabia, issued a October 2007
to highlight the very themes that Maudit Joint Force Quarterly, noted several fatwah [Islamic legal pronouncement]
recommended. She states the US has US Government efforts to counter prohibiting Saudi youth from engaging
20 Winter 2009
in jihad abroad. Also in autumn 2007, To counter an extremist’s use of the • Amplify Al Qaeda’s mistakes,
Saudi cleric Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, Internet, the Coalition needs to develop fabricate other mistakes, and ensure
wrote an open letter condemning Usama and execute the correct combination of that any extremist group is used, not
bin Laden. All of these individuals constraining, monitoring, and deceiving just Al Qaeda. Using other groups to
have had a strong impact on countering extremists. Identifying which servers serve propaganda purposes is known as
extremist recruitment and spread of their extremist groups use allows Coalition “widening the circle”
propaganda online. members to shut down those servers, and • Government’s prompting of
Limiting the manner in which force (or even guide) an extremist to a mainstream Muslim clerics to issue
the Internet can shape opinions, new host. This constrains an extremist’s fatwas (religious rulings) that incriminate
through offering “other information or activities, making it much more difficult the movement and their actions
sources” that are deemed offensive to to connect with their online user base and • Strengthening and backing Islamic
an insurgents cause, can certainly help communicate new plans and activities. movements far removed from the fight,
the Coalition effort. Advanced societies Monitoring allows one to get an inside particularly those with a democratic
have developed the virtual transnational look at how plans are developing. approach
communication network that insurgents Insurgent’s use of the Internet can also • Aggressively neutralizing or
can use at no or limited cost, and we must simply be shut down. Both of these discrediting the guiding thinkers of the
offset their efforts if the US hopes to options might involve deception, but jihadist movement
succeed in the ongoing War of Ideas. the best use of deception is simply • Spinning the minor disagreements
Today, terrorists are toying with the infiltrating a group and pretending to be among leaders or radical organizations as
use of the virtual environment created someone you aren’t. What about limiting being major doctrinal and methodological
by Linden Lab and known as Second content? If extremists are not provided disputes.
Life (SL) [see “Exploring Second Life, material or video footage, they lose a Al-Libi thus indicates the best way
Cory Ondrejka Interview,” IO Sphere major mobilizing factor. Simply making to influence an extremist movement is
Fall 2007, p. 25]. A terrorist envisions things more painful for extremists by to ‘strangle it by tying it up in knots.’ It
SL as a means to communicate, launder disrupting communications should have is unclear why he would develop such
money, or recruit individuals. There a countering effect on their Internet options for countering an insurgent’s
are measures in place to thwart this activities. use of the Internet—bravado is one
effort. First, Ken Driefach, Linden Lab’s Most significant of all, an extremist possibility. Another possibility is that
Deputy General Counsel, states that recommends ways to limit the ability of he was merely regurgitating all that was
there are systems in place to monitor insurgents to communicate. Abu Yahaya written in 2007 about methods to counter
avatar activities and identify gaming al-Libi offered tips for better prosecuting insurgent Internet access and use.
behavior that may support a terrorist the war of ideas against Al Qaeda. He Governments should force Al Qaeda
cause. Second, SL users can help noted that to defeat Al Qaeda, it was into a series of compromising positions
counter terrorist use of the virtual gaming necessary to follow six steps: from a variety of angles so that it hangs
environment by monitoring information • Focus on amplifying cases of ex- itself over the long term. Hopefully the
and communications exchanged among Jihadists who have willingly renounced US Strategic Communication plan, and
players and their activities. Finally, the use of armed action and recanted the organizations it will spawn in this
undercover operations could be initiated their previously held ideological new year, will be able to implement this
to provide information on groups with commitments strategy in an innovative manner.
jihadist tendencies. Since the most often
discussed solution to challenge insurgents
is the use of clerics or imams to issue
decrees, perhaps this option would also
Tim Thomas, LTC, US Army, Retired,
work in SL’s ‘virtual mosques?’
served as a Soviet/Russian Foreign Area
The Second Life case shows a small
Officer. His assignments include brigade S-2
sample of other law enforcement issues.
and company commander in the 82d Airborne
First, there are technological challenges.
Division, and the Army Russian Institute. He
Insurgents skip from server to server, use
has done extensive research and publishing in
anonymity as a friend, hide in chatrooms,
the areas of peacekeeping, IO, and PSYOP.
move from one neutral computer source
He currently serves as a Senior Analyst
to another, and enter friendly systems
in the Foreign Military Studies Office, Ft
at will to recruit or look for financial
Leavenworth. He holds a BS from West Point,
support. Second, Western nations must
and a Master of Arts from USC.
contend with extremist ideology that
rejects anything other than their way of
living and thinking.
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