MANILA, Philippines, July 1 (UPI) -- Monitoring the Internet for terrorist propaganda and recruitment efforts presents a unique challenge to counter-terrorism, U.S. officials said in Manila.
The use of the Internet as a recruiting and propaganda tool emerged on the international radar in the wake of the November shooting in Fort Hood, Texas. Alleged triggerman U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan reportedly had contact with al-Qaida propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki on the Internet before the shooting.
The U.S.-born Awlaki is said to have ties to the alleged would-be bomber of a U.S. passenger jet Christmas Day as well.
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, deputy coordinator for counter-terrorism at the U.S. State Department, told delegates at a security conference in the Philippines that the Internet presents a paradox for law enforcement.
"The challenge for open societies, therefore, is to maintain the free flow of information and respect for freedom of expression, while discouraging those who would exploit it to harm others," she said.
Because Southeast Asia has one of the fastest growing rates of Internet usage in the word, the coordinator said, the region has a vital role to play in the international effort to monitor the Internet for cyberterrorism and cybercrime.
"Effective counter-terrorism policy requires strong international partnerships, as terrorism is too big a security threat for any one country to face alone," she said.
