Cyber-Terrorism And The Free Speech Conundrum: A Reflection

2064 Words9 Pages
Cyber-Terrorism and the Free Speech Conundrum: A Reflection
“The Internet is a prime example of how terrorists can behave in a truly transnational way; in response, States need to think and function in an equally transnational manner.”
-Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

I. Introduction:
Almost all terrorist organization across the globe have made their presence felt in the social media. Their never ever presence in “Online Social Networking (OSN)” sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. is a matter of concern for the international community of States because, in today’s contemporary world, these OSN’s are so influential in the day-to-day life of individuals and more specially so in the life of the younger generations. Cyber-terrorism expert, Evan Kohlmann argues that:
Today, 90 percent of terrorist activity on the Internet takes place using social networking tools. . . . These forums act as a virtual firewall to help safeguard the identities of those who participate, and they offer subscribers a chance to make direct contact with terrorist representatives, to ask questions, and even to contribute and help out the cyberjihad.
“[S]ocial networking web sites, instant messaging, and chat rooms [have] become ubiquitous in today’s society.” Social networks have the principal purpose of facilitating interactions between individuals. This principal purpose makes social networks a key element in an individual’s effective exercise of his or her right to