Terrorists Recruited on YouTube? [1]
Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson [2] on
Senator Joe Lieberman [3] has penned a letter to Google [4], asking them to ban content on YouTube that is produced by organizations considered to be terrorist, such as Al Qaeda [5]. Lieberman asserts that Islamic terrorist groups are using YouTube to "'disseminate their propaganda [6], enlist followers and provide weapons training.' His Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee [7] has found Al-Qaeda branded videos on YouTube documenting 'horrific attacks on American soldiers in Iraq [8] or Afghanistan [9].'" Lieberman adds that the videos play a "significant role in the process of radicalization, the end point of which is the planning and execution of a terrorist attack." Google responded that while it understands Lieberman's concerns and has removed some egregious videos, they seek a balance that "encourages free speech and defends everyone's right to express unpopular points of view."