Terrorism and the internet: a double‐edged sword
| Date | 11 October 2011 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201111173839 |
| Pages | 359-370 |
| Published date | 11 October 2011 |
| Author | Shima D. Keene |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
Terrorism and the internet:
a double-edged sword
Shima D. Keene
The Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, School of Advanced Study,
University of London, London, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the extent of the use of the internet by terrorist
organisations to achieve their strategic and operational objectives.
Design/methodology/approach – The methodology adopted consisted of an extensive literature
review on topics to include Islamic terrorism, cyber crime, globalisation, and financial crime,
supported by field work to verify findings.
Findings – Al-Qaeda has become a radical Islamic phenomenon held together through its global
network of communities, both virtual and physical. One significant enabler has been the internet,
which enables anonymous communication, aids recruitment, encourages the sharing of knowledge, as
well as playing a significant role in the spreading of propaganda. The understanding of the use of
internet-based technologies, not only as a potential target for terrorist attack, but as a tool to achieve
its ideological and operational goals, remains a neglected area of study requiring further focus.
Originality/value – This paper serves as a useful guide to alert and educate counter-terrorism
professionals, law enforcement and policy makers of the significance of the extent of the use of the
internet for purposes such as operational planning, recruitment, psychological operations and fund
raising. It is essential that these subjects should not be viewed as a peripheral issue to cyber-terrorism,
but instead, should be considered to be central to the existing counter-terrorism effort.
Keywords Internet, Terrorism, Globalization,Al-Qaeda, Internet technology,Risk assessment,
Psychologicaloperations
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
National governments and decision makers in the twenty-first century face a new
security environment which has emerged as a result of globalisation accompanied by the
ever increasing speed of technological advancements. Against this background, the
threat from terrorism remains a key concern in relation to national security. The existing
focus remains on the threat of a terrorist “cyber” attack. However, of equal if not more
concern is the use of cyberspace by terrorists to achieve its strategic and operational
objectives.
Recent advancements in technological innovation, in particular internet-based
technologies, have not only helped to link the world more closely together, but have
brought numerous added benefits, socially and economically. Technologies such as
e-mail and Skype offer instant communication at low cost. In terms of commerce,
companies have been able to offer services that are more competitive as a result of the use
of internet-based technologies. For example, sales orders can be made via e-mail at any
time of day or night, which can be processed instantaneously, and dispatched more
quickly than ever before, thus improving the speed of services provided. In addition,
automated technologies have enabled companies to reduce the number of staff for order
processing, resulting in the reduction of overhead which in turn leads to a reduction
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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Terrorism and
the internet
359
Journal of Money Laundering Control
Vol. 14 No. 4, 2011
pp. 359-370
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/13685201111173839
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