Online extremists are a step ahead of law enforcement

Subject

Online radicalisation.

Significance

The EU has increased political and legal pressure on major technology companies to tackle online radicalisation and remove extremist content. Simultaneously, its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) obliges all digital businesses to tighten user privacy. Security and privacy imperatives are increasingly at odds, not just in Europe but elsewhere too.

Impacts

• Protecting user privacy and free speech while blocking extremist content is technologically challenging.
• The GDPR will restrict data available to independent analysts of corporate efforts to curb online radicalisation.
• Owners of smaller social media and communication channels may have few resources to invest in counter-radicalisation efforts.