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Source: ONE News
The use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and
YouTube by militant and hate groups grew by almost 20% in the past
year, a report by the Simon Wiesenthal Center found.
The study, using research by the centre and tips from the public,
found more than 11,500 social networks, websites, forums and blogs
promoting violence, anti-Semitism, homophobia, hate music and
terrorism, an increase from 10,000 last year.
"The numbers are probably, at the end of the day, multiples of
that," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the center's associate dean who
has been researching hate on the internet since 1995.
"That should be taken as a low ball figure."
Extremists also were heavily promoting online the idea of operating
as so-called lone wolves rather than as part of a group, the human
rights group named after the late Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal
said.
Cooper told a news conference examples of hate on the internet
included videos of extremists appealing for recruits and showing
how to make improvised explosive devices.
Online games ranged from bombing Haitian earthquake survivors to shooting illegal immigrants and gays.
Facebook groups included "national kick a ginger day" and "I
love curry bashing."
"While children are taught that 'sticks and stones may break your
bones but words will never hurt you,' it's not always true,"
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, from New York, told reporters.
"Terrorism and intolerance start with words, but they grow into actions."
