Posted on 02/14/2013 6:33:30 PM PST by optiguy
The American public increasingly relies on the Internet for socializing, business transactions, gathering information, entertainment, and creating and sharing content. The rapid growth of the Internet has brought opportunities but also risks, and the Federal Government is committed to empowering members of the public to protect themselves against the full range of online threats, including online radicalization to violence.
(Excerpt) Read more at whitehouse.gov ...
Violent extremist groups ─ like al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents, violent supremacist groups, and violent “sovereign citizens” ─ are leveraging online tools and resources to propagate messages of violence and division. These groups use the Internet to disseminate propaganda, identify and groom potential recruits, and supplement their real-world recruitment efforts. Some members and supporters of these groups visit mainstream fora to see whether individuals might be recruited or encouraged to commit acts of violence, look for opportunities to draw targets into private exchanges, and exploit popular media like music videos and online video games. Although the Internet offers countless opportunities for Americans to connect, it has also provided violent extremists with access to new audiences and instruments for radicalization.
There are links to PDFs outlining the task force's objectives and tools to be implemented. ---Heads up!
Islamists? Communists? Dorner fan clubs?
//sarc
Wait, I’m confused.....are they worried about anti-government types or extremists? Can’t they make up their mind? Are they worried about both types? ;)
Let me guess. Advocating the government being accountable to the rule of law makes one a violent extremist.
Anyone know what their Freeper name is?
Obama activates his version of “the plumbers?”
They will be coming after Conservative sites.
The way the I read the fact sheet at the end of the announcement, they’ll make it up as they go along.
In Newspeak, “sovereign citizens” = “tea party terrorists” = “Constitution fanatics” = bitter clingers standing in the way of socialist utopia.
A Starting Point: This is a starting point to tackle the threat of violent extremist use of the Internet. Adopting an Internet safety approach and related tools is key, but the Interagency Working Group to Counter Online Radicalization to Violence will be charged with considering additional efforts, as appropriate.
Protecting Freedom of Speech: It is important that we continue to protect civil liberties and privacy as we implement an Internet safety approach and that we do not restrict speech. Our focus is on providing communities with information for staying safe online from individuals who are trying to encourage others to commit acts of violence. Our concern with protecting civil liberties and privacy informed the development of our policy and will guide the efforts of the Working Group.
Addressing the Threat: Violent extremists use the Internet to recruit and radicalize Americans to commit acts of violence. We have seen attacks over the last several years in which consumption of propaganda over, and communication through, the Internet played a role in the radicalization of the attacker. The Federal Government will work to make communities more resilient to these messages of hate by raising awareness and providing tools. Informed and resilient communities are our Nation’s first and best line of defense against terrorism.
Resources and Implementation: The resources necessary for implementing this policy will be determined by the Working Group. However, the goal is to integrate these efforts into ongoing Federal, state, and local Internet safety programs. For example, the OnGuard Online website hosted by the Federal Trade Commission will begin including information about violent extremist use of the Internet in their existing Internet safety materials. Implementation will be coordinated by the Working Group, which will be chaired by the White House National Security Staff. Relevant departments and agencies will participate in the Working Group and collaborate to implement this policy.
Collaborating with Industry: The Federal Government will collaborate with industry to explore how we might counter online violent extremism while protecting lawful Internet use and the civil liberties and privacy of individual users. Many companies have developed voluntary measures to promote Internet safety (such as fraud warnings, identity protection, and Internet safety tips), and we look forward to hearing their views about how we might apply similar measures to counter online radicalization to violence.
Could mean whoever they define.
With the exception of some Islamist sites (not FOB sites), it is aimed mainly at white, conservative sites including FreeRepublic, the Gun Rights organizations, White supremacist groups (who should be kept under law enforcement surveillance, not Red House monitoring), and groups of scientists who don’t buy the environmental wacko theories of global warming (Hansen says these scientists are a threat to national security), etc.
This is a revival of the old Huston Plan under Nixon/Dean, but at least Huston’s targets were legitimate threats to the US.
I wonder if Van Jones is going to be monitored because of his leadership of the maoist revolutionary “STORM” organization he headed before Valerie Jarrett recruited him for “Green Czar”? Oh, I forgot, you can listen to his crap on MSNBC or CNN. Nevermind.
Welcome to Obama’s version of “1984”, comrades. You’ll love it, or else!
Oh. Like the FBI and BATF...
The guy who started the modern version of tracking political enemies and other potential “trouble makers” was a guy named Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich. I’ll leave it as an exercise for readers who’ve never heard of this individual to research him.
It is long past the time to get off the internet and start meeting in private homes. And thanks to technology the meetings really should be in Faraday cages.
Exactly. How many times have we read about some perp being arrested only to find out the whole operation was planned, financed and coordinated by the agency making the arrest.
Be prepared and watch the mouth.
Could mean whoever they define.
Which has become fairly significant, since Obama has declared that he has the personal authority to order a drone strike on any American he "deems" a threat, and that he can do so outside of the rule of law, the oversight of Congress, any known due process and within top secret status.
Just sayin'.
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