The Home Affairs Committee, which is appointed by the UK House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the governments Home Office, has today published the results of its "wide-ranging inquiry" into 'The Roots of Violent Radicalisation' (i.e. Terrorism). The report calls upon ISPs to be "more active" and to develop a Code of Practice for the removal of related material (e.g. websites etc.).

The report claims that the internet played a part in most, if not all, cases of violent radicalisation and urges a crackdown.


Few would disagree with the core principal of removing violent or extremist websites from the internet at source. Indeed related content is often already against the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) of most ISPs, although there is perhaps a danger from mission creep. It should be said most of the big ISPs usually only provide access to the internet, while separate web hosting firms typically publish the content, although there can be some crossover.


The report also admits that completely ridding the internet of "violent extremist material" would be an "impossibility", especially when most of it is "hosted abroad". As a result there is a call for the government to "strive towards" greater international cooperation to tackle this issue, which mirrors an earlier EU recommendation.

Home Affairs Committee - Roots of Violent Radicalisation
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmhaff/1446/144602.htm

UPDATE 5:24pm

Added a comment from the Open Rights Group (ORG).

UPDATE 7th February 2012

BT has issued a general statement on the subject.


Clearly the government does not agree.