Virtual Radicalisation: Challenges for Police
Recent advances in communications technology are providing a medium for individuals or groups to subscribe to extremist worldviews and form networks, access training and obtain information, whilst remaining virtually undetected in the online world. Whilst the Internet is facilitating global virtual communities like Second Life, MySpace and Facebook it is also providing an anonymous meeting place for disenfranchised individuals to gather, share ideas, post and exchange information regarding their particular ideology. This virtual community provides a sense of belonging to a global cause in which the actions of an individual can be aligned to, and seen to contribute towards something more significant than their own lives. Membership of this virtual community can facilitate the indoctrination of individuals, thereby negating psychological barriers that would normally inhibit particular types of behaviour. Terrorist groups operate as amorphous, fluid networks providing them significant advantages over rigidly structured state and nation based law enforcement agencies. In addition terrorist groups are exploiting the combination of rapidly evolving technology and incommodious legislation to prevent detection.