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Smith targets internet extremism Smith targets internet extremism
(about 1 hour later)
The home secretary has outlined plans to target websites promoting extremism, as part of efforts to stop people being drawn towards radical groups.The home secretary has outlined plans to target websites promoting extremism, as part of efforts to stop people being drawn towards radical groups.
Jacqui Smith says she wants to use technology to stop "vulnerable people" being "groomed for violent extremism". Jacqui Smith said she wanted to use technology to stop "vulnerable people" being "groomed for violent extremism".
"Stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists is the major long-term challenge we face," she said in her first major speech on the issue. "Because something is difficult, that is no reason not to have a go at it," she added. "The internet can't be a no-go area for government."
Ms Smith will discuss the plans with members of the communications industry. Ms Smith is to discuss the plans with members of the communications industry.
Earlier she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was growing evidence terrorists were using the internet to spread messages.
Violent extremism
"As well as changing the law to make sure that we can tackle that, I think there's more that we need to do to show that the internet isn't a no-go area as far as our tackling of terrorism is concerned," she said.
"We need to work with internet service providers. We need to actually use some of the lessons we've learnt about how we, for example, protect children from paedophiles and grooming on the internet to inform the way in which we use it to prevent violent extremism and to tackle terrorism as well."
It's widely perceived that the... effort to prevent people being radicalised and going on to become terrorists has proved difficult Gordon CoreraBBC security correspondent The world's most wanted cyber-jihadist
She told the programme it was part of a "broad approach" recognising the need to prevent people turning to terrorism in the long term - as well as preventing terrorist attacks now.
She said "grievances" about British foreign policy never justified terrorism - but she recognised the need to "debate, challenge and address those grievances".
Later she will meet internet service providers and members of the Muslim community to discuss measures to block websites which promote terrorism.Later she will meet internet service providers and members of the Muslim community to discuss measures to block websites which promote terrorism.
The home secretary said it would be possible to "learn lessons" about removing offensive material which was placed online.
It's widely perceived that the... effort to prevent people being radicalised and going on to become terrorists has proved difficult Gordon CoreraBBC security correspondent The world's most wanted cyber-jihadist
The government would consider "how you can filter out content, how you can work with internet service providers, how you can work internationally to get illegal stuff off the internet", she told BBC News 24.
"It will be difficult but we're determined, working with partners, to get rid of it."
Earlier Ms Smith said this was part of a "broad approach", recognising the need to prevent people turning to terrorism in the long-term, as well as preventing attacks now.
"Grievances" about British foreign policy never justified terrorism, she added, although she recognised the need to "debate, challenge and address those grievances".
RoadshowsRoadshows
Next year the government will provide more than £500m to fund security and counter-terrorism measures, rising to nearly £600m over the following two years.Next year the government will provide more than £500m to fund security and counter-terrorism measures, rising to nearly £600m over the following two years.
It has also given backing to national roadshows at which leading Muslim scholars and opinion formers talk about extremist ideology.It has also given backing to national roadshows at which leading Muslim scholars and opinion formers talk about extremist ideology.
Ministers estimate that about 60,000 people have attended so far and an associated website gets 50,000 hits a month.Ministers estimate that about 60,000 people have attended so far and an associated website gets 50,000 hits a month.
It's the young who are particularly adept, skilled and involved with the internet... the vulnerabilities for them are enormous Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke Q&A: Preventing extremismIt's the young who are particularly adept, skilled and involved with the internet... the vulnerabilities for them are enormous Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke Q&A: Preventing extremism
The government hopes that by encouraging more interaction between opinion formers in the UK and in predominantly Muslim countries, misunderstandings about Islam can be corrected.The government hopes that by encouraging more interaction between opinion formers in the UK and in predominantly Muslim countries, misunderstandings about Islam can be corrected.
Higher and further education centres are also set to receive guidance on how to help increase community cohesion and prevent violent extremism.Higher and further education centres are also set to receive guidance on how to help increase community cohesion and prevent violent extremism.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said that for the past five years, the government's counter-terrorist strategy had been based around the "4 Ps" - protecting, preparing, pursuing and preventing.BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said that for the past five years, the government's counter-terrorist strategy had been based around the "4 Ps" - protecting, preparing, pursuing and preventing.
"It's widely perceived that the last of these - the effort to prevent people being radicalised and going on to become terrorists - has proved most difficult.""It's widely perceived that the last of these - the effort to prevent people being radicalised and going on to become terrorists - has proved most difficult."
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of specialist operations at Scotland Yard, told BBC Two's Newsnight that it was young people who must be the focus of attention.Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of specialist operations at Scotland Yard, told BBC Two's Newsnight that it was young people who must be the focus of attention.
"Many of the people we're seeing getting involved in [extremism], or falling prey to extremists, are very young," he said."Many of the people we're seeing getting involved in [extremism], or falling prey to extremists, are very young," he said.
"And of course it's the young who are particularly adept, skilled and involved with the internet. So the vulnerabilities for them are enormous."And of course it's the young who are particularly adept, skilled and involved with the internet. So the vulnerabilities for them are enormous.
"And when you look at some of this material out there you have to say it's pernicious.""And when you look at some of this material out there you have to say it's pernicious."