Terrorism remains a global issue that nations are facing
today. Islamic States extremist groups have taken advantage of the anonymity of
the online platform to execute their operations, such as propagation of their
ideology, terrorist recruitments, fund raising and training-i.e. how to build a
bomb. (UNODC, 2012) It is challenging to trace and crack down on all these
terrorist activities with the rapid sharing of terrorist related materials that
are easily accessible on social media websites. (Maura C., 2007)
Number of terrorist related websites has increased
tremendously, from 12 in 1998 to nearly 10,000 today. (Gabriel W., 2007) In
addition, online forums and chatrooms have allowed these terrorist group to
dissimilate terrorist related information such as agenda and operation of the
terrorist groups and answer queries that sympathizers of terrorist group had
virally. (Marie W., 2015)
High internet penetration of 73% (We Are Social, 2015) in
Singapore has allows for the rapid dissimilation of terrorists materials to
majority of the nation. Furthermore, Malay population attribute to a total of
13.3% of the total ethnic group in Singapore (Statistics Singapore, 2010). It
is vital that Islamic practitioners of the Malay population have receive proper
preaching to prevent being self-radicalised by the vast amount of terrorist
material online.
In order to keep terrorism on social media on bay, Singapore
have taken a proactive and preventive measures, which includes, regional
dialogues, community engagement, internet surveillance and censorship.
Extensive social presents of terrorists on the social media
have required nations to discuss and devise strategic counter terrorism
measures to keep terrorism under control. Singapore have organise and
participate in various regional dialogues on terrorisms. A dialogue that
Singapore has attend is, ’EU-Asia Dialogue, 2015’. Information sharing between
terrorist experts and regional leaders through the conferences have promote a
more comprehensive counter terrorism measures with the cooperation between the
nations.
Community engagement is also a counter measure that the
Singapore’s government have devised to counter against terrorism on social
media. The Islamic Religious Council of
Singapore (MUIS), which is in charge of the welfare of the Muslim community in
Singapore, ensures that the Muslim community Singapore have received accurate
and proper Islamic teaching. MUIS has set up various websites to educate the
general public about Islam and its practices. These websites include, www.iask.com.sg, www.invoke.sg, www.radical.mosque.sg. In addition,
Religious Rehabilitation Group (RPG), headed by a group of Islamic scholars and
teachers, allows vulnerable teenagers that are taken in by false belief by the
extremist on the social media to seek counselling helps. (Ustaz A., n.d.)
Internet surveillance and censorship also acts as deterrence
against propagation of terrorist ideology. As part of an initiative to counter
against terrorism, the Internal Security Department Counter-Terrorism Centre
(ISD CTC) was established in April 98. The ISD CTC is mainly involved in the
monitoring and investigation of terrorist activities or incident, including
terrorist threats online. A 24 hours incident response centre was even set up
to provide immediate response to security incidents. Intelligence gathered from
cases of security incidents will be collected and stored by the ISD CTC for
further evaluation and analysis of traces of terrorist activities. In addition
as a means to identify and assess new emerging threat to national security, the
Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning (RAHS) was developed and launched by the
National Security Coordination Secretariat in 2004. Analytical tools such as
SKAN and Vanguard are part of the software that RAHS had developed, enabling
the modelling and monitoring of emerging strategic solutions.
Apart from the various control measures that Singapore’s
government have devise to deter against terrorism, personal initiative from the
publics can aid in the fast identification of potential targets of people
radicalised by terrorism. Furthermore, regular roadshows and educational talks
about terrorism can be conducted in schools and cooperation. This can help to
educate the public of the significance of terrorism and how they can contribute
to deter against terrorism.
In conclusion, it may be impossible to stop the propagation
of terrorist related materials on social media due to their abundancy.
Nevertheless, coupled with counter terrorism measures such as regional
dialogues, community engagement, internet surveillance and censorship and
personal initiative, we can limit the operations of terrorist activities and
casualties brought by terrorist attacks.
References
·
· Bryna S. The
Straits Times. (2013, Mar). Budget
2013: Self-radicalised individual re-detained. Retrieved
from: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/budget-2013-self-radicalised-individual-re-detained-20130307
·
· Win Kwang
S. Home Team News.(2013, Mar ) Maintaining vigilance against
terrorism and sharpening cyber enforcers to counter online threats. Retrieved
from:http://www.hometeam.sg/article.aspx?news_sid=201303078WLmFeUoaLxV
·
· Rob L. Yahoo! News. (2014, May) Social media
a key element for terror groups. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/social-media-key-element-terror-groups-203545974.html
·
· Zakir H.. The Straits Times.
(2015,Jan). PM Lee: Greatest damage from a terror attack would be to trust and
confidence.Retrieved from :http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/pm-lee-greatest-damage-terror-attack-would-be-trust-and-
·
· Jian Yue X. Channel News Asia. (2015, Mar).
Masagos urges Singaporeans to be eyes and ears in fight against terrorism.
Retrieved from:http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/masagos-urges/1693232.html
·
· Internal security
Department. (n,d). ISD Counter-Terrorism Centre (CTC).Retrieved from: http://www.mha.gov.sg/isd/abt-isd.htm
·
· RAHS .(n,d) RAHS
Programme: Origin and Progress .Retrieved from: http://www.rahs.gov.sg/public/www/content.aspx?sid=2952
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· Rachel C. The
Straits Times. (2015, Jan) Terrorism: How prepared is Singapore?. pp D2-D3
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