UK counterterror top dog: Volume of ‘Islamist and right-wing terrorism’ online ‘is so high it cannot be policed’

UK authorities have just been accused of “inflating far-right threat to appease critics who say they focus too much on jihadis.” Neil Basu, in speaking about online “Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorism” as if they were equivalent threats, is once again doing this.

In any case, he will never “stop people becoming terrorists in the first place” as long as he continues to pretend that the reason why they become terrorists in the first place is other than what it is.

“UK counter-terrorism chief says online extremism cannot be policed as Covid provides ‘perfect storm,’” by Nicky Harley, The National, January 8, 2021:

The head of the UK’s counter-terrorism police warned online extremism “cannot be policed” as Covid-19 is providing the “perfect storm” for terrorists.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said action needs to be taken to prevent police being overwhelmed.

In its latest report, the UN’s counter-terrorism committee said nations needed to be aware that terrorist groups are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic and using online games in a bid to target children in lockdown.

The UN’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) revealed it had seen an increase in the online radicalization of children and urged countries to be alert.

Mr Basu said extremism has become too widespread online and that the combination of lockdown, isolation, mental illness and increasing time spent online created a “perfect storm”.

“When you look at the volume of material which is horrific and shouldn’t be allowed online, it is really distressing for a lot of people, the volume is so high it cannot be policed,” he told The Independent newspaper. “It would have to be prevented and that is the most important thing.”

The new Online Harms Bill, which proposes internet regulation that would force companies to remove material or face fines, is currently being considered by the UK parliament.

Mr Basu said this bill is “fundamental” to combating the issue.

“The thing that has always been my biggest concern is the growth of online radicalization,” he said. “It has allowed conspiracy theories and existing Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorism, and all kinds of other single-issue terrorism, to thrive 24/7 internationally at the speed it takes to press a button.”

He said the “cure” to tackling terrorism is to stop radicalization.

“The way to stop the very high threat is to stop people becoming terrorists in the first place,” he said.

“Too much emphasis is on people coming out of prison, people returning from abroad and whether we can deradicalise them.

“That isn’t the cure for this. The cure for this is getting them before radicalisers really get to grips with them, and steering them to a different path.”…