Against Backdrop of New White House Report on Countering Domestic Extremist Violence, SWC Urges YouTube to Remove All Bomb-Making Related Videos

August 4, 2011

"Stop inadvertent online logistical support for 'lone wolf' terrorist"

A just-released report by the White House recognizes the key role that the Internet plays in the targeting of America's youth by violent extremists, domestic and foreign. Against this backdrop the Simon Wiesenthal Center is urging YouTube to immediately remove all videos that provide instructions on bomb-making.

"President Obama is right to point out the special power that social networking has in influencing our youth. But, in addition to the introduction of hate propaganda, the Internet provides a virtual library for potential terrorists. In particular, the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Digital Terrorism and Hate Project has tracked scores of YouTube videos that provide detailed instructions on the making and detonating of explosives. This includes flamethrowers, C-4 plastics, napalm, car bomb detonators, cell phone detonators, time bombs, and others," said Internet Hate expert, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "In 2010, we shared these concerns during a meeting with YouTube officials at their headquarters in California. Unfortunately, little, if anything has been done to curb this dangerous online niche."

"Today we live in the era of "Lone Wolf" terrorism, where just last week the world saw the scope of murder and mayhem (in Norway) that can be inflicted by a single individual. This phenomenon extends to extremists of every ilk-from al Qaeda adherents to anti-Muslim fanatics. Internet technologies are a key component of the "Lone Wolf" threats, providing ideological encouragement and support and virtual terrorism libraries. We call on YouTube and other Internet companies to stop inadvertently providing online logistical support for tomorrow's terrorists."

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400.000 members. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament.