Right-wing extremism is greater threat to school children than Islamist extremism, terror experts say

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Last month, 20-year-old Luca Benincasa from Cardiff was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to various terrorism crimes.

The self-proclaimed “cell leader” of a banned neo-Nazi group was arrested last January after police raided his home in Witchchurch. They found a large amount of extremist material, including a Nazi flag, airsoft his rifle, and documents on how to make explosives.

During his trial last month at Winchester Criminal Court, a judge said Benincasa was sucked into the far right while spending time online during lockdown. became “increasingly apathetic”, began identifying themselves as “incels” and began recruiting other teens to become terrorists online.

Incel – involuntary abstinence – is a term for young men who consider themselves unattractive to and hostile towards women.

Experts say Benincasa is the latest example of a startling increase in the number of teenage boys being lured into far-right extremism in Britain.

The number of individuals mentioned in the government’s counter-terrorism program, Prevent, surged last year, citing concerns related to extreme right-wing ideology, according to statistics released last week. It was the second year in a row that it was overshadowed by

Over the year to March 2022, more than 1,300 people in England and Wales were referred to counter-terrorism programs for right-wing ideologies, compared with just over 1,000 for Islamist extremism, and 16% of the total. bottom.

Also, for the first time since Prevent was founded in 2006, the education sector was the largest referral channel, with the highest percentage of people considered at risk of radicalization among boys.

A Prevent review, due out later today, is expected to conclude that the counter-terrorism plan has focused too much on far-right extremism, at the expense of efforts to tackle Islamic extremism. It happens despite the fact that

But government advisers said I Ministers have not kept up with the rapidly evolving online landscape that has proven to be a breeding ground for far-right content aimed at teenagers.

A prevention team working with schools in the UK has also said there has been a significant increase in the number of children and young people being referred by teachers over concerns that they are being drawn into far-right extremism.

Last year, 19 out of 20 children under the age of 18 arrested for terrorist acts were associated with far-right ideologies.

The far-right ideology, traditionally associated with groups such as Britain First and the English Defense League, has morphed in the breeding grounds of social media. It is now defined as “active opposition” to democracy, individual liberty, and different faiths and beliefs.

Recruiters now target 13-year-olds by lurking in gaming forums, chat rooms, and comment sections of popular apps. Meanwhile, algorithms on platforms such as TikTok are sending young people into “echo chambers” of increasingly polarizing and racist thinking.

Jonathan Hall KC, an independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has urged ministers to strengthen online safety legislation to better protect children from the threat of online radicalization.

“Bizarrely, the online safety bill treats terrorism the same for adults and children,” he said. I.

“In relation to things like self-harm, the current iteration includes special obligations for children, but not the same obligations for terrorism. You have to say, ‘Where’s it?’ But with terror content, there’s no need for that, and I think it’s missing a trick when it comes to children.”

A long-delayed online safety bill would make tech companies legally obligated to remove illegal content such as child sexual abuse material, revenge porn, and terrorism.

Technology platforms also have a duty of care to keep children safe online. This means companies will be forced to seek out content about things like suicide and self-harm, or tech bosses could be jailed.

But Hall said this would do little to address content associated with radicalization and solicitation.

“We would like to see more aggressive obligations imposed on sites with many children than those outlined in the current version of the Online Safety Bill,” he said. “Because, frankly, children seem to be at a higher risk of being recruited to terrorist content than adults.

“Policy makers can choose a good new mandate to go looking for harmful things on sites used by children, and apply it to terrorism content as well. Far-right extremism is on the rise. It’s like a phenomenon.”

Tory lawmaker and former minister with link to online safety bill said I Ministers were “actively considering” adding amendments to the bill aimed at tackling radicalization.

But he warned that the proposed changes have so far faced opposition over concerns that the online safety bill would be “too heavy” to pass Congress.

But experts say that if governments can’t mandate tech companies to crack down on online extremism, schools should be forced to play a bigger role in tackling extremism. I agree with you on something.

All educational settings have a responsibility under a precautionary duty to report any student showing signs of radicalization. However, teachers report feeling increasingly incapable of providing quality instruction on the subject.

According to a 2021 report by academics at University College London, teachers in the UK were not given the time, training or resources to teach students about hateful extremism. I found the lessons on the subject to be ‘very variable’ and in some cases ‘superficial’ and ‘unconventional’.

Last October, the Department of Education updated its guidance for schools with specific advice on online radicalization. Teachers recommend creating lessons about recognizing extremist content online, “exploring techniques used in persuasion,” and letting students know how to get support. But the advice remains — advice.

Several principals have taken the initiative and brought students to rallies to discuss issues involving Inseldom, social media influencer Andrew Tate currently detained in Romania…to radical ideologies.

I We understand that the Home Office is also in contact with groups such as the Center for Countering Digital Hate to better understand the changing nature of online extremism.

But experts are calling for a more unified approach.

“The easiest way to raise awareness of the dangers of harm online and the risks of radicalization and extremism is to incorporate it into national curricula,” said Nigel Bromage, who runs Exit Hate. Families affected by far-right extremism.

Not only will this make young people more sensitive to the dangers they may encounter both in real life and online, but it will also help them “protect friends they may see change and worry about.” He said he will be better prepared.

Worryingly, children are being exposed to extremist content at ever younger ages as they move online more quickly.

Last year, a 13-year-old Darlington schoolboy became the UK’s youngest person to be convicted of a terrorism offense. He was arrested as part of an investigation into right-wing terrorism and later charged with possession of explosives-manufacturing manuals.

Meanwhile, Exit Hate said he was recently asked to help a 9-year-old boy who fell into the hands of far-right extremists.

“This is a serious ongoing concern and we need to take the threat seriously, challenge it and work to mitigate it,” Bromage said. I.

According to Louis Brace of the University of Essex, who advises governments on extremism, a serious response to the growing problem of far-right extremism would require ministers to take a “two-pronged approach”.

First, we need to discuss “at the highest levels of government” how to crack down on tech companies, especially the “filter bubble” that drives young people into the online rabbit hole.

“If you type ‘anti-feminism’ on YouTube, you may see videos that seem to talk about feminism and its ‘issues. And before you realize that an algorithm is directing you to a Jordan Peterson-esque video, and that algorithm is directing you to very extreme content,” he said.

“It’s becoming more and more popular among young men. “

Second, children need to be “inoculated” against extremism at school. “At the national curriculum level, information online he needs to seriously consider introducing lessons to deal with schools,” Brace said.

“Realistically, we’re not going to remove all the worrisome content. The internet will always evolve faster than the law. Yes, let’s keep things online. But we have to come up with something on the educational side as well.” That is the only way to actually start mitigation.”

Neither Home Secretary Suera Braverman nor Education Secretary Gillian Keegan have spoken publicly about plans to tackle the radicalization of Britain’s youth since taking office last year.

The independent report to Prevent, due to be issued this afternoon, marks the first official endorsement of counter-terrorism measures aimed at young people since the start of the Rishi Sunak government.

Concluding that more resources should be spent on tackling Islamist radicalization, the program became an “extension of social services” and schoolboys to prevent increasingly widespread manifestations of extremism. is expected to complain that is now referenced.

However, many believe that the expected conclusion is erroneous. Congress’ Information Security Committee concluded in its annual report last year: This is primarily an unmanaged space. “

Hall, an independent commentator on terrorism legislation, said: I: “Barriers to entry into terrorist crime have been completely shattered by the internet. If you want a copy of a 20-year-old terrorist manual, you don’t know where to go. Go to the pub and say, ‘ I had to start saying, “Oh, I hate immigration. Anyone else know immigration?”

“Nowadays, it is very easy for people to meet like-minded people. It’s easy to meet people who talk about terrorism, and the barriers to committing terrorist crimes have been torn down significantly.”

A government spokesperson said: We are committed to addressing all those who promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities and promote views that radicalize others. “