Propagating an Alternative Message
Besides screening and filtering information available online, some governments have also developed websites and intervened in radical forums to counter terrorist propaganda.
Reproduced from: counterideology.multiply.com
In Singapore, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has started www.radical.mosque.sg to ensure that the Muslim community in Singapore is exposed to correct Islamic teachings, and not swayed by terrorist ideologies. These websites are targeted at youth, and contain blogs, articles, videos, and a forum where questions about Islam can be raised and addressed. A similar project has been developed in the UK. The Radical Middle Way website was started after the 7/7 attacks on the London underground, aiming to improve young Muslims’ understanding of Islam. It renounces terrorism and contains videos of speeches by Muslim leaders imparting correct teachings, as well as discussion boards and forums.
Reproduced from: www.zabihah.com
However, views which come from the state or a state-sponsored group may be perceived as unreliable and unattractive to the target audience, who can simply avoid visiting such sites. More fundamentally, the Internet is so diverse that people can select an environment which reinforces their beliefs. If a person sympathetic to the cause of terrorism comes across a website that questions it, he can simply leave. There is nothing to induce him to engage in debate outside his comfort zone (UN, 2010). Also, this approach has been criticized as being less effective than adjusting curriculums in school to facilitate greater discussion of Islam beliefs, so as to reduce misconceptions and promote understanding. While these are all valid points, it does not mean that the government should abandon such efforts. Establishing such websites can be part of a multi-pronged strategy, where the anti-terror message is distributed across various media platforms and incorporated into the education system (UN, 2010).
Apart from establishing anti-propaganda websites, another approach is to attempt targeted interventions in radical forums (UN, 2010). The Digital Outreach Team in the U.S. is a state-sponsored organisation that posts messages in radical forums. These are officially attributed to the state, but nevertheless help to promote dialogue. The only problem is that some participants may be banned from the more extreme forums, which prevents them from conveying their message. The alternative is for the state to enlist volunteers and remain anonymous, though there is a risk of their credibility being undermined if they are discovered to be voicing opinions on the state’s behalf.