Let’s Stop Blaming 'The Internet’ For Terrorism
Following attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, that left many dead, President Obama addressed the nation to condemn those terrible acts and reassure Americans that the government has a plan to fight terror. As is becoming a common refrain in political circles, technology was fingered as a culprit in the attacks.
Obama contended first that the local terrorist threat can be blamed on the Internet. “[A]s the Internet erases the distance between countries, we see growing efforts by terrorists to poison the minds of people like the Boston Marathon bombers and the San Bernardino killers,” he said, before suggesting that the solution to terrorism involves “urg[ing] high-tech and law enforcement leaders to make it harder for terrorists to use technology to escape from justice.”
During a press briefing the next day, the White House secretary clarified that while the president “believes in the importance of strong encryption,” we “don’t want terrorists to have a safe haven in cyberspace.”
His thoughts on the Internet as a mind-poisoner and criminal safe haven were echoed less poetically by two of the leading candidates to take his place in the White House. Last week, Donald Trump said, “We’re losing a lot of people because of the Internet” and suggested that we “go see [Microsoft founder] Bill Gates” about “closing up the Internet” to stop terrorist recruitment, while Hillary Clinton said we need to “deny [would-be terrorists] online space” and “shut off their means of communicating.”
On the left: Trump's remarks on the Internet & free speech everyone is making fun of. On the right: Hillary Clinton pic.twitter.com/FK4bxdowtC
— Trevor Timm (@trevortimm) December 8, 2015
To paint the Internet with such a broad brush is laughable, even when talking about it for such tragic reasons. Yes, social media has been used as a means of recruitment by ISIS, but it’s also deprogrammed members of hate groups, as recently detailed in Adrian Chen’s powerful New Yorker piece. In it, he tells the story of Megan-Phelps Roper, who left the Westboro Baptist Church after meeting people who challenged her views via Twitter and Words With Friends. Not only is isolating extreme groups or removing them from the Internet entirely impossible, it’s not clear it would be an effective strategy for disempowering them. The “would-be terrorist” who is banned from the Internet -- however that infeasible act is accomplished -- may well become an actual terrorist because he is cut off from seeing how complex the world actually is.
As for the contention that technology has helped terrorists escape justice, while encryption can make it harder for law enforcement to get evidence it wants, that doesn’t seem to match the facts in these recent cases. The married attackers behind the San Bernardino shootings do not appear to have used encryption for their communication, though they did destroy their cellphones, which authorities say had some built-in encryption, which most modern phones have. The only significant role the Internet seems to have played for them was bringing them together; they reportedly met on an online dating site. (Hopefully Trump doesn’t call for Match, OkCupid and Tinder to be “closed up” anytime soon.)
As for the Paris attackers, their plot was hatched “in plain sight,” using unencrypted phones, hotel booking sites, and car rental agencies -- all services that, again, I hope are not condemned by lawmakers. Their use of the Internet is more likely to help lead investigators to others connected to the attacks than it will help hide them from justice. If people with violent intentions were truly pushed completely off the Internet and off the grid, how would we find them or stop them?
Technology and the Internet are being invoked in fearful terms because it is easier to point the finger there than unpack the multifold and complicated reasons behind these acts—the growth of hateful ideologies, racial and ethnic tensions, the ease of buying semi-automatic weapons, the long-term effects of an ongoing war waged by drones, and twisted minds that embrace violence.
When we decide to take the easy way out and paint technology in black and white terms, it can lead to insane outcomes, such as requests for “golden keys" -- backdoors to circumvent encryption that would leave all of our information more vulnerable to hackers. Law enforcement in France proposed banning the privacy tool Tor and, during states of emergency, shared and public Wi-fi. That would mean, during a time of fear, it would be even harder for people to communicate with loved ones. Thankfully, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called this what it was: a terrible plan.
Like the U.S., France has recent domestic attacks fresh in its mind, but Valls speaks more measuredly about technology than Obama, Trump and Clinton.
Translated from TF1:
"Internet is a freedom, an extraordinary way to communicate with people, that’s a plus for the economy,” said Manuel Valls, admitting it was “also a way for terrorists to communicate and spread their totalitarian ideology."
It does both. It spreads intellectual and economic freedom. It spreads hate. It will not be selectively stopped. Let’s stop pretending like that’s possible.
“Authoritarian governments tell their citizens that censorship is necessary for stability. It’s our responsibility to demonstrate that stability and free expression go hand in hand,” wrote Google Chairman Eric Schmidt in a recent New York Times op-ed. “Ever since there’s been fire, there’s been arson.”
To enjoy the wonders that come from global communication, we have to put up with some of the terrible aspects too.
Also on WorldPost:
The President's Address
Tonight, @POTUS was resolute. We will be relentless in efforts to protect the American people & defeat terrorism. https://t.co/kZFsTF4qhA
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) December 7, 2015
We must learn the lesson of Iraq. American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 7, 2015
President Obama's address tonight once again failed to offer any clear strategy to defeat #ISIL - my full stmt: https://t.co/zbbaFUklO0
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) December 7, 2015
This was disappointing. No new plan, just a half-hearted attempt to defend and distract from a failing policy. pic.twitter.com/5Mlw9weI03
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) December 7, 2015
Vintage Obama: No strategy, no leadership. Politics as usual.
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) December 7, 2015
.@POTUS is right: It makes no sense we let suspected terrorists pass a background check & buy a gun legally. https://t.co/qsPpjyA8uM
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) December 7, 2015
There are answers here to make our nation safe, but once again the President seems incapable of finding them.
— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 7, 2015
If I am elected President, I will direct the Department of Defense to destroy ISIS: https://t.co/am6Sxe3anE
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 7, 2015
Read more from @JohnKasich on #ObamaSpeech https://t.co/ZlDM31FLNn pic.twitter.com/rL8DsQPicl
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) December 7, 2015
This is the war of our time. It shouldn’t be business as usual. My response to @POTUS' weak Oval Office Address: pic.twitter.com/PvHKfVJqzC
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 7, 2015
Pres solution - 'Congress authorize what I am already doing and restrict law abiding people's right to defend themselves.'
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) December 7, 2015
President Obama is also overselling the successes we are having on the battlefield. His strategy will not destroy ISIL and he knows it.
— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) December 7, 2015
My full statement on President Obama’s Oval Office address on the threat of terrorism and the fight against ISIS: https://t.co/X88im6oDn1.
— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) December 7, 2015
We need to come together now &pass law 2 stop those on no fly list from buying guns, w/ due process for Americans who are wrongfully on list
— Kelly Ayotte (@KellyAyotte) December 7, 2015
The events of recent weeks demonstrate that Congress can no longer ignore ISIL threat and its constitutional duty to authorize war
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) December 7, 2015
Important news from @POTUS tonight — we are a nation of hope, not hatred. #StopGunViolence at home & continue fight against ISIS abroad.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) December 7, 2015
Speech was a total failure of leadership and defense of a failed policy. No substance, no change of policy.
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) December 7, 2015
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.