Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) has introduced legislation (H.Res.224) dealing with the explosion of jihadi propaganda videos on video sharing sites such as YouTube.
An aide to Congressman Shuster explains:
First and foremost, this bill would express the “sense of Congress” that these sites should take action against jihadi propaganda. It is not binding and does not have the power of law to compel or censor the Internet. We even state in the legislation that Congress should be very hesitant in taking any steps towards the regulation of content on the Internet. Instead, the resolution urges the owners of these websites to realize that they are hosting jihadist propaganda and take action to remove or flag these videos.
The congressman wants to start a debate in Congress on how terrorists use the Internet to spread their ideology, radicalize their audience and recruit members. He hopes this legislation will start that debate.
Good. I hope it does.
A press release from the congressman’s office:
Shuster Introduces Legislation to Fight Terrorists” Use of the Internet Takes Action Against the Online Jihad
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA-09), a member of the House Anti-Terrorism Caucus, introduced legislation urging owners of video-trading websites like You Tube to take action to remove jihadi propaganda videos.
“The war against Islamic radicalism is both a shooting war and a battle of ideology. Our enemies understand that they cannot defeat us face to face on the battleground, so they have created a new battlefield on the Internet,” Shuster said.
“Terrorists hope that by opening this new front, their view of the world will prevail. It is up to the owners and users of video-trading sites to remain vigilant and help to deny our enemies this victory,” Shuster said.
Jihadi terrorist organizations have long understood the benefits of the Internet to spread their cause. Jihadi sites allow terrorists to fundraise and distribute propaganda. They also facilitate the radicalization, recruitment and training of prospective terrorists. The popularity, ease of use, and negligible cost of video-sharing websites like YouTube and LiveLeak have provided yet another channel for terrorists to spread their ideology of hate.
Terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda have set up sophisticated media operations whose mission is to create and distribute jihadi propaganda and training materials on the Internet.
Shuster’s legislation would express Congress” desire to see the corporate owners of video-sharing website take action to remove jihadi videos from their sites. Additionally, the legislation encourages website owners to cooperate with law enforcement if their sites users are found to participate in terrorism.
“I doubt that the American public in World War II would have accepted the major media outlets of the time distributing Nazi propaganda at face value,” Shuster added. “Times have changed, media has evolved, but the fact remains — terrorists hope their supporters see these videos and are encouraged to attack Western interests. These videos aid the enemy and they must be confronted.”
And here is the text of the resolution itself:
110TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSIONH. RES. 224
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that corporate owners of websites that share user-posted videos should take action to remove jihadi propaganda.IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. SHUSTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that corporate owners of websites that share user-posted videos should take action to remove jihadi propaganda.
Whereas since the World Wide Web’s public release in 1991, the Internet has evolved into a revolutionary tool to facilitate the free access and distribution of information instantaneously and electronically to peoples all over the world;
Whereas the Internet has created a global community that has become the cornerstone of commerce, speech, and culture for the Twenty-first Century;
Whereas jihadi terrorist organizations throughout the world have taken advantage of the Internet’s anonymity, low cost, and lack of regulation to raise funds as well as radicalize, recruit, and train potential members to join their organizations and participate in violent jihad against the West;
Whereas terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda have organized
media operations such as as-Sahab, Sawt al-Khilafa (Voice of the Caliphate), and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF) to create and distribute jihadi propaganda and training materials on the Internet;Whereas jihadi terrorist media operations continue to utilize video and media sharing websites such as YouTube, Liveleak, Google Video, and others to spread their message of hate, propagandize their insurgent operations, and facilitate the training of prospective terrorists;
Whereas the use of the Internet by jihadi organizations who seek the destruction of America has been identified by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM); as well as private organizations including the SITE Institute (Search for International Terrorist Entities), the Society for Internet Research, and the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) as a major threat to American troops, homeland security and our success in the Global War on Terror;
Whereas social networking video distribution websites generally reserve the right to remove objectionable material; and
Whereas many websites have recognized the threat these videos pose and have taken steps to remove them from circulation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that””
(1) terrorists view the Internet as a key tool in their ongoing jihad to recruit members, spread information, and distribute propaganda for their cause, and, in doing so, they have turned the World Wide Web into a new battleground in the War on Terror;
(2) in a time of war, terrorist videos amount to enemy communications;
(3) while Congress should not regulate the Internet, the owners of websites that share user posted videos should exercise proper corporate governance and take steps to remove enemy propaganda from their sites;
(4) if the owners of these website suspect that a user on their site is a member of or affiliated with a known terrorist organization, they should cooperate with law enforcement and the intelligence community to report questionable postings; and
(5) Congress recognizes and applauds the work of the SITE Institute, the Society for Internet Research, the Middle East Media Research Institute and others for their work in combating online jihad and creating a resource for public education of the terrorist’s use of the Internet in the War on Terror.