The Internet as Hiding Place of Jihadi Extremists

It is no secret that violent extremists - whether Jihadists or Neo-Nazis - make intensive use of the internet as a platform for discussion, planning, propaganda and recruitment. Hence, when countering violent extremism, governments will have to face the extremists both off- and online. In the latest ICCT Commentary, Research Fellow Dr. Bibi van Ginkel argues that using repressive measures, such as criminalisation of these online activities (e.g. blocking websites or other forms of social media), is not necessarily the most suitable solution for several reasons.