Digital Terrorism & Hate 2005 Report Shows 25 Per Cent Increase In Hate Sites

A 25 per cent increase in internet hate
sites over 2004 has been revealed today at a Fredericton news conference by
the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Traced by the Center's Task Force Against Hate & Terrorism operating in
six countries around the world, the seventh annual interactive CD ROM Report
is based on over 5,000 problematic web sites that aid and abet terrorism,
promote racial violence, antisemitism and xenophobia.
Sites are from every continent and in many languages including Spanish,
German, Russian, Japanese and Arabic. There is also a separate section on hate
games and websites targeting children.

HIGHLIGHTS

Canada
White supremacists are behind most of the 15 sites directed exclusively
at Canadians. But their servers are located in other countries.

Terrorism
How the Internet has emerged as key component of International
terrorists' operations from recruitment videos to beheadings of hostages to
incitement.

Cyberwars
How terrorist groups like al Qaeda uses cybersquatting to evade detection
and use the latest hacking techniques to distribute files.

Games
Among 20 'games'- including Bushkiller, NY Defender (you lose and the WTC
collapses), Oklahoma City Escapades (you organize and re-enact the 1995
terrorist attack), Hezbollah's Special Force, and the Way To Al Quds.

Target Europe
Anti-immigrant and xenophobic political groups, skinhead music portals
and racist Hooligan sports groups rail against the European Union.

Transnational Hate
How hate groups like Blood and Honour and the World Church of the Creator
are forging a global alliance of racism and antisemitism.

North America
The Internet impacts on changing landscape and tactics of hate groups.

"While we don't advocate censorship, we do advocate vigilance," said Leo
Adler, National Director of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center based in
Toronto. "It is important to understand that while the hate groups have not
yet succeeded in forming a unified and even more potent international force,
this type of propaganda inspires marginal individuals to commit acts they
might not otherwise commit."
The Center's Associate Dean, Rabbi Abraham Cooper added, "The Canadian
Association of Internet Providers has very strong rules and won't allow this
kind of hate material to stay on a Canadian server. When it comes to free
speech, Canada and the U.S. have different traditions about where the line is
drawn, but in the United States since 9/11, we do get better cooperation (from
the authorities) when a Web site is more directly related to terrorism."

ABOUT FRIENDS OF SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies is a Canadian
human rights organization dedicated to fostering tolerance and understanding
through community involvement, educational outreach and social action. With
over 40,000 members of all faiths, it confronts important contemporary issues
including racism, antisemitism, terrorism and genocide. Friends is affiliated
with the world-wide, Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, an accredited
Non-Government Organization with status at international agencies including
the United Nations, UNESCO, OSCE and the Council of Europe, with offices in
New York, Miami, Paris, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires and Toronto.
www.wiesenthal.com

For further information: David Eisenstadt, The Communications Group
Inc., 1-800-267-4476 x 36, deisenstadt@tcgpr.com

Author:  

Email:    

Topic:    

Content: