Terrorist use of Internet : the virtual battlefields ? Contents and evolution of the use of Internet by extremist networks

Different use of the Internet (1) Spreading propaganda material (messages to the Umma, reviews : Al Somoud etc.) Sending messages to the ennemy (communiqués) and challenging him (by sending videos of hostages e.g.) Zone for proselytism and « horizontal » communication

Different use of the Internet (2) A remote « university of terrorism » (counter-interview & counter-surveillance techniques, IED’s handbook etc.) Means of communication for jihadi members (« vertical communication ») Access to sensitive information (e.g. cartography by Google Earth etc.) in order to plan terrorist operations

Different aspects of Internet Islamist Internet sites (ansar al haqq, minbar- sos, al mourabitoun etc.) as well as non specifically islamist web sites Chat rooms and islamist fora with different levels of confidentiality (from low to high level of security : al hesbah, al ekhlaas etc.) Use of encryption (« moudjahideen secret 1 & 2 »)

Who are the activists on Internet (1) Terrorists networks, through their « Emirs » and official spokemen - Abdelmalek DROUKDAL & Abou Mohamed Salah for Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - Oussama BEN LADEN, Ayman AL ZAWAHIRI & Abou Yahya Al Libi for Al Qaeda - Abou Omar AL BAGDADI & Abou Hamza AL MOUJAHIR for Islamic State in Irak etc.

Activists on the Internet (2) Cheikhs -Fatwas -Advice to the muslim community on religious texts and islamic law (Chaaria)

Activists on the Internet (3) Islamic media groups : As-Sahab, Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), Al Furqan Media, Al Ansar Media etc. Translation Film production & editing Broadcasting

Activists on the Internet (4) Web users with extremist views -On-line discussions on « jihad related matters » -Relay for propaganda (e.g translation of propaganda material etc.)

Is Internet a vector for radicalisation ? Internet : one facilitation tool for radicalisation among the global process of radicalisation The crucial role of jihadi websites (links and the feeling of « belonging to a community ») Islamic websites : a narrow one-sided point of view (the « information bubble » )

Evolution of extremist propaganda Increasing number of communiqués, videos and audios posted Improvement in the production and editing of videos and propaganda material Evolution of the message in itself (from a strong religious focus to more political and « environmental » messages)

Counter-measures Towards a common European legislation? July 1881 law and anti-terrorist act of Sept : « public incitation to commit terrorist acts… » Law of the 21st of June 2004 aimed at Internet : « communication to the public by electronic means… »

Are counter propaganda efforts over the Internet possible ? Radicalisation factors not all grounded in the religious field Motivation of extremists can be more « revolutionary » than strictly related to religion Counter-radicalisation methods in Western countries : what legitimacy ?

Counter-propaganda Issues : -The choice of religious texts -Understanting all the aspects of the doctrine -What do « defensive jihad », « offensive jihad », « excommunication » mean in our modern societies ? -Difficulties to counter-attack on extremism without attacking faith itself

Cyberterrorism : myth or reality A definition : « to destabilize a country by trying to paralyse or disrupt parts of its critical infrastructures in a direct cyber-attack (e.g denial of services, viruses) or by exploiting its vulnerabilities (e.g wireless technology etc.) »

Cyberterrorism (2) Objectives : - vital national networks such as water supplies, electricity networks or communication means …

Cyberterrorism (3) Need of a « long-term strategy » in order to identify targets and their vulnerabilities The success of this kind of cyber-attacks may be uncertain and the impact on the population less important than the one of a more « conventional » terrorist attack (like bombings in urban transportation systems e.g)

Conclusion Al Qaeda and affiliated groups follow the evolution of the Internet and are using it in a quite efficient manner Security services must be vigilant and not underestimate the capabilities of terrorist networks in this matter