“A proposed EU law that forces Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook (FB.O) and Twitter
(TWTR.N) to remove terrorist content within an hour of publication cleare

 

 


<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>
Eye on Extremism


April 30, 2021

 

Reuters: Online Terrorist Content Law Wins EU Lawmakers' Backing Amid Rights
Concerns
<[link removed]>

 

“A proposed EU law that forces Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook (FB.O) and Twitter
(TWTR.N) to remove terrorist content within an hour of publication cleared its
final hurdle after EU lawmakers gave their backing despite concerns from civil
rights groups. The European Commission had proposed the law in 2018, worried
about the role of such content after a series of attacks by radicalised
lone-wolf attackers in several European cities. The EU executive defines online
terrorist content as material inciting terrorism or aimed at recruiting or
training terrorists as well as material that provides guidance on how to make
and use explosives and firearms for terrorist purposes. The European Parliament
approved the law late on Wednesday. Lawmaker Patryk Jaki said the legislation
“balances security and freedom of speech and expression on the internet,
protects legal content and access to information for every citizen in the EU,
while fighting terrorism through cooperation and trust between states”. The
companies can face fines up to 4% of their global turnover for non-compliance.
They have said they shared regulators' efforts to tackle the issue and keep the
content off their platforms.”

 

Bloomberg: Domestic Terrorism Law Being Weighed By Justice Department
<[link removed]>

 

“The Justice Department is “actively considering” whether to seek a new law
that would let prosecutors bring specific charges for plotting and carrying out
acts of domestic terrorism, a senior department official said. “One of the
things we’re looking at is would we need new authorities,” Brad Wiegmann,
deputy assistant attorney general for the department’s national security
division, said during a House hearing Thursday. Wiegmann said the department
has been successful using existing laws to fight domestic terrorism, such as
bringing charges for offenses involving violations of weapons or explosives
laws, hate crimes and arson. He said more than 430 arrests have been made in
connection with the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. The attack was carried
out by extremist supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The FBI has warned
that domestic violent extremists pose a heightened threat for carrying out
attacks in the U.S. in the near future, with white supremacists being the most
lethal threat. “The question we’re really wrestling with is: Are there gaps?”
Wiegmann told a House Appropriations subcommittee. “Is there some type of
conduct that we can envision that we can’t cover or would it be an otherwise
benefit in having something else other than what we’re having now?”

 

United States

 

Newsweek: Congress Needs To Review UN Agency's Terror Finance Problem
<[link removed]>

 

“The Biden administration this month announced that it will resume U.S.
funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)—a UN welfare agency
ostensibly meant to assist Palestinian refugees that has faced multiple
corruption scandals. One big problem: a review of the agency's expenditures
revealed that it steers money to terror-group affiliates. It's now up to
Congress to protect U.S. taxpayer funds. UNRWA is no stranger to criticism.
Since most of its registered “refugees” are citizens or permanent residents of
countries such as Jordan, or currently reside within the borders of a future
Palestinian state, less than 5 percent of its serviced population meets the
1951 Refugee Convention criteria for refugee status. The agency has also
fomented virulent anti-Semitism through its educational curriculum. It has no
oversight other than a biannual audit conducted by the People's Republic of
China's representative to the UN Board of Auditors. In seeking to help
Palestinians in need of humanitarian assistance, there are many reasons that
Congress could justifiably halt plans to restart aid to UNRWA, and direct aid
to those in need through other channels.”

 

USA Today: Is Amazon Recommending Books On Qanon And White Nationalism?
Browsing Books Can Lead To Extremist Rabbit Hole
<[link removed]>

 

“Amazon’s book recommendation algorithms that help customers discover new
titles may have a dark side. A new report from the Institute for Strategic
Dialogue says these algorithms steer people to books about conspiracy theories
and extremism, sometimes introducing them to the work of conspiracy theorists
who’ve been banned by other online platforms. People browsing a book about one
conspiracy on Amazon are likely to get suggestions for more books on that topic
as well as books about other conspiracy theories about everything from QAnon to
the COVID-19 vaccine, the report found.  Other features, such as auto-complete
in the search bar and content suggestions for the author or similar authors can
also lead users down an extremist rabbit hole, said Chloe Colliver, head of
digital policy and strategy at the ISD. The pattern is similar to problems
observed on other major online platforms like Google's YouTube, whose
algorithms have been found to direct users to extreme content, sucking them
into violent ideologies.  “Given that vaccinations and Covid-19 issues are
currently top of mind for many, the potential for recommendation of false or
extremist information about these topics is certainly concerning,” Colliver
told USA TODAY.”

 

Syria

 

Kurdistan 24: Syrian Kurdish Asayish Arrest 3 ISIS Suspects In Deir Al-Zor
With Coalition Support
<[link removed]>

 

“Special units from the Internal Security Forces in northeast Syria recently
detained three suspected ISIS in Thiban, eastern Deir al-Zor province. “The
cell has carried out assassinations and laid mines,” said the Syrian Democratic
Forces, of which the Asayish is part. “Weapons and equipment were seized. Air
surveillance support was provided by the international coalition,” the SDF’s
Coordination and Military Operations Center said about the operation on
Thursday. Coalition spokesperson Colonel Wayne Marotto said the operation was
enabled by coalition support. “Together, we remain committed to the
#DefeatDaesh mission, stabilize NE Syria & fight terrorism,” he tweeted. The
SDF and Coalition announced the defeat of ISIS in March 2019, but insurgent
sleeper cells remain active in territories recaptured from the group. According
to the latest report by the Syria-based Rojava Information Center, ISIS carried
out 40 attacks in northeast Syria in March. The majority of these attacks were
carried out in Deir al-Zor, where the SDF and local administration officials
have been especially targeted by ISIS insurgent attacks.”

 

Iraq

 

The National: Iraqi Security Officers Wounded As Suicide Bomber Shot In Kirkuk
<[link removed]>

 

“Iraqi security forces on Thursday thwarted a suicide bombing attack outside
the National Security building in the northern city of Kirkuk. Iraqi security
forces killed the would-be suicide bomber, but the explosive belt he was
wearing was detonated by the bullets fired at the man and wounded two security
officers, a security source told The National. “A suicide bomber tried to blow
himself up in the National Security building in the Qurayyah area in the city
of Kirkuk, but the guards shot him,” Col Yusef Saleh, director of Domiz police
station in Kirkuk, told the Rudaw media network. There was no immediate claim
of responsibility for the attempted attack. Bombings in Iraq, once a near-daily
occurrence, became rare events after ISIS was defeated in 2017. The extremist
group also claimed a January attack on a crowded market that killed 32 people.
It was the deadliest attack in Iraq in nearly three years. Despite ISIS being
significantly weakened, the group maintains sleeper cells in Iraq. In recent
months, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service and other security forces launched
a series of military operations in remote areas, mainly in northern Iraq, to
hunt down ISIS militants.”

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Iraqi President Calls On Security Forces To Prevent
Infiltration Of ISIS Militants
<[link removed]>

 

“Iraq President Barham Salih called on the national security services to carry
out their duties in combating terrorism, including stopping ISIS from
infiltrating Iraqi territories. Salih met with the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi
Army, First Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, and the two discussed
security developments in the country. Salih stressed the need to support the
state’s authority and its security agencies to better enforce the law, protect
citizens, and enhance the capabilities of security forces. For his part,
Yarallah briefed the President about the recent military operations against
ISIS. Meanwhile, Iraqi Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanimi suspended three
military commanders of the Arar border guard forces for not carrying out their
duties during a recent terrorist attack. The Ministry published a video showing
an ISIS attack at the Arar crossing, on the border with Saudi Arabia, during
which the terrorists opened fire on the border patrol of the Fifth Brigade of
the Third Regiment. A source at the ministry explained that the terrorists took
control of al-Abyad police station, and stole communications equipment and a
vehicle, as well as weapons. The Iraqi security forces are trying to secure
Kirkuk and Diyala following a series of ISIS attacks during the last period.”

 

Afghanistan

 

CBS News: Afghan Forces Prepare To Take On The Taliban Without U.S. Help,
Because There's “No Other Option.”
<[link removed]>

 

“In his first address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday evening,
President Biden underlined his plan to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan
after nearly 20 years — America's longest war. The final pullout begins in May,
and with the Taliban expected to ramp up violence, CBS News' Charlie D'Agata
met some of the U.S.-trained Afghan forces who will soon face the insurgents on
their own, ready or not. The Taliban has been gaining ground in Afghanistan for
months. Traveling by road in the country has never been more dangerous, so
D'Agata and his crew were flown by helicopter to a military base where Afghan
soldiers have been training and putting on a show of force. The elite Afghan
troops have been staging military exercises, with weapons and training provided
by their U.S. military allies. The Taliban has already threatened to escalate
attacks when the U.S. misses the previously-agreed May 1st deadline to withdraw
its forces. The U.S. military is preparing for that, sending in hundreds more
Army Rangers, B-52 bombers, and the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier to
safeguard the pullout. But by the 20-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks, all U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan.”

 

Pakistan

 

Yahoo News: Pakistan's Capital City Put On High Alert After Threat Of Terror
Attack
<[link removed]>

 

“Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad has been put on high alert in the wake
of intelligence reports that terrorists might strike in the city. The security
of high profile individuals including VVIPs, VIPs, diplomats and Chinese
nationals has also been tightened, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported. Moreover,
the security was also tightened around important installations, hospitals and
religious places. The Central Police Office (CPO) of Islamabad had written
letters to various departments of the city, asking them to upgrade security for
personalities and installations, senior police officers told Dawn. The security
officials have also been directed to stay on high alert at all check posts and
points. Earlier this month, radical Islamist party the Tehrik-i-Taliban in
Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for a deadly bomb blast at a luxury
hotel in Quetta, hosting the Chinese ambassador, which led to the killing of
four.”

 

Nigeria

 

Voice Of America: Cameroon Military Says It Pushed Boko Haram Fighters Into
Nigeria
<[link removed]>

 

“Cameroon's military said Wednesday its troops pushed back about 80 terrorists
from Fotokol, a town on the border with Nigeria. The statement said the Boko
Haram fighters were from the Nigerian town of Wulgo in Borno State.  Cameroon's
military said it killed several fighters in clashes this week, but Boko Haram
escaped with all but two of the bodies. The military said it destroyed six war
jeeps and seized a large arsenal, including machine guns and assault rifles.
The military said Monday's operation was led by troops of the Multinational
Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. A military spokesperson,
Navy Captain Atonfack Guemo Cyrille Serge, said the operation freed several
civilians who had been abducted by the militants.   Nineteen-year-old Zumbaisi
Babale, who witnessed the abductions, said the fighters took away his elder
sister and a man with whom she was seeking refuge in their village church. He
said he hid under a bench until the fighters left, then the military took him
to their base for protection.”

 

Africa

 

Bloomberg: Southern Africa Bloc Edges Toward Intervening In Mozambique
<[link removed]>

 

“The Southern African Development Community made progress in plans to help
Mozambique fight an Islamic State-linked insurgency by agreeing on a concerted
effort to deal with the violence that’s indefinitely delayed Africa’s biggest
private investment. Regional ministers “unanimously agreed on the need to act
urgently as a collective, to quell the terrorist activities in Cabo Delgado” in
northern Mozambique, according to a speech by Botswana Foreign Minister
Lemogang Kwape, who’s also the chairman of the SADC organ on defense and
security. “We agreed on a comprehensive strategy for our collective response to
the security situation in Mozambique, which will also facilitate humanitarian
assistance,” Kwape said before a heads of state meeting that had been scheduled
for Thursday was postponed indefinitely. The leaders were due to decide on a
course of action after a SADC technical team visited Mozambique to come up with
recommendations. Militants carried out a major attack last month on a
Mozambican town close to Total SE’s $20 billion liquefied natural gas project
that prompted the company to declare force majeure, suspending contractual
obligations because of events outside of its control.”

 

The National: West Africa A Magnet For Illicit Animal Trade Linked To
Extremist Terrorism
<[link removed]>

 

“Wildlife poachers with links to terrorism are rampaging across West Africa
with local authorities unable to control the illegal trade, a report found.
Money is urgently needed to enable task forces across the region to tackle the
growing criminality that helps fund extremist groups, the Royal United Services
Institute report said. The stark warning comes after the death of a wildlife
conservationist and two journalists who were killed by Al Qaeda-linked
terrorists on Monday while on an anti-poaching patrol in Burkina Faso. A Malian
soldier stands guard by the river bank in Konna, central Mali. AFPISIS central
command’s links to Mozambique and terror across Africa The National previously
disclosed that ISIS-linked groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo are
killing or capturing exotic animals to fund their terrorism campaign. Poachers
are now moving in significant numbers into West Africa, targeting rare forest
elephants and pangolins to raise considerable sums. The Rusi report called for
more financial investigations into the wildlife traffickers who were driven
from East Africa after a clampdown by authorities. “Financial intelligence
units in the region are failing to carry out financial investigations needed to
bring high-level wildlife traffickers to justice,” the London-based think tank
said.”

 

Africanews: Terrorism “Spares No One” Says Burkina Government After Deadly
Attacks
<[link removed]>

 

“Ousséni Tamboura, Burkina Faso's Minister of Communication and government
spokesman, has said terrorism “spares no one” following the killing of three
foreigners in the easternpart of the country and deadly attacks on villages in
the Seytenga district in the north of the country. Burkina Faso has been
targeted by jihadist attacks since 2015, as have its Sahel neighbours Mali and
Niger. The most recent attack on a convoy of expatriates and security forces
which left two Spanish journalists and an Irish citizen killed in the eastern
part of Burkina Faso have raised light to the situation. The bodies of two
Spanish journalists and the Irish wildlife activistwere on Wednesday awaiting
repatriation from the capital Ouagadougou, where they had been brought by
helicopter late the previous night. Spain, Ireland and Burkina were discussing
details of the flight for the remains, a government source in Ouagadougou said,
including whether the Europeans' bodies would be returned on one or two
separate aircraft. “No date has been set” for now, the source said. Spain's
foreign ministry said it had “set up a military flight to repatriate the bodies
once Burkina Faso authorities give their authorisation.” It hoped to transfer
them “as soon as possible.”

 

United Kingdom

 

The National: ISIS Human Trafficking Networks Inquiry Launched By British
Parliament
<[link removed]>

 

“Members of the UK Parliament are to examine the scale of ISIS human
trafficking operations after 50 British women and children were identified in
camps in north-east Syria. The group – jointly chaired by former international
development secretary Andrew Mitchell – will push for the repatriation of
Britons including adults who face potential criminal charges on their return.
Human rights group Reprieve identified 16 women, 9 men and 34 children from
Britain in the camps who are part of 15 family groups. It said the majority of
the women were identified as victims of trafficking after they were taken to
Syria as children, coerced into travelling or exploited on arrival. Last month,
The National spoke to a boy, 13, in a migrant camp, the only surviving member
of a family whose mother took them to Syria to join extremists. Other prominent
cases include Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria as a 15-year-old schoolgirl
before marrying a Dutch ISIS fighter. They lived in the ISIS stronghold of
Raqqa for about four years before the group lost its grip on the territory. She
ended up in the Al Roj migrant camp where she is being held in dire conditions
by the Syrian Democratic Forces.”

 

Germany

 

CNN: Germany Puts Anti-Lockdown Group Under Surveillance For Possible
Extremist Ties
<[link removed]>

 

“Germany's intelligence service is putting some anti-lockdown activists under
surveillance because of concerns they are attempting to undermine the
legitimacy of the federal state. The country's Federal Office for the
Protection of the Constitution (BfV) announced on Wednesday that the new
surveillance would focus on some members of the 'Querdenker' group. The
movement has been promoting coronavirus and vaccine skepticism as well as other
conspiracy theories, and has been involved in violent anti-lockdown protests.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said the Querdenker movement had shown it was
willing to use violence and that the authorities have to protect the rule of
law in the country. “Right wing extremists are trying to take control [of these
events] -- and what we cannot tolerate at all is violence,” Seehofer said at a
news conference in Berlin on Wednesday. He stressed that people have the right
to express their opinions, but that there is “zero tolerance” for extremism.
Members of the movement -- whose name means “thinking outside the box” or
“lateral thinking” -- have been protesting against lockdown measures since the
start of the pandemic.”

 

Australia

 

Brisbane Times: Accused ISIS Supporter Was Found With False Venezuelan
Passport, Court Told
<[link removed]>

 

“An Australian man accused of being an ISIS supporter claimed he received a
false Venezuelan passport after someone approached him in a shopping centre
five years ago, a Brisbane court has heard. Ahmed Luqman Talib, 31, from
Doncaster East in Melbourne’s north-east, made a second unsuccessful bail
application, this time in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday. The
father-of-eight was arrested on March 25 and extradited from Victoria after he
and Queenslander Gabriel Crazzi, 34, were detained in a counter-terrorism
sting. Mr Talib is charged with one count of preparations for foreign
incursions into foreign states for purpose of engaging in hostile activities
between October 1, 2012, and September 1, 2013. Appearing for Mr Talib,
barrister Hament Dhanji, SC, said the alleged offences, which included acting
as a translator at a meeting in Turkey, occurred eight years ago and his client
had an otherwise clean criminal record. Mr Dhanji said the Crown case largely
depended on a statement from ‘Witness 1’ that implicated Mr Talib. The witness
gave the statement as part of a deal with the Australian Federal Police.
Witness 1 received immunity from prosecution for an offence that carried a
maximum prison sentence of 20 years.”

 

Europe

 

Radio Free Europe: Iranians Plead Not Guilty To Danish Terrorism Charge
<[link removed]>

 

“Three members of an Iranian Arab opposition group have pleaded not guilty to
Danish charges of financing and promoting terrorism in Iran with Saudi Arabia's
backing. The three, who are members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the
Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA) and were arrested in February last year, risk 12
years in prison if found guilty in the trial that started in Copenhagen on
April 29. ASMLA is based in Denmark and the Netherlands and is considered a
terrorist group by Iran. The three, one of whom is a Danish citizen, are aged
39 to 50. Gert Dyrn, a lawyer for the eldest of the three suspects, told the
media that in his client's opinion “what they are charged with is legitimate
resistance toward an oppressive regime.” “They are not denying receiving money
from multiple sources, including Saudi Arabia, to help the movement and help
them accomplish their political aim,” Dyrn said. He added that this was “the
first case in Denmark within terror law where you have to consider who is a
terrorist and who is a freedom fighter.” His client has lived as a refugee in
Denmark since 2006. The three were charged by the Danish public prosecutor on
April 27.”



Click here to unsubscribe.
<[link removed]>