Today-July 24
There is a growing concern about youth radicalism in Singapore, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Monday (July 24), highlighting the role of social media and gaming platforms. The terrorism threat to Singapore remains high, with self-radicalization online being the primary threat driver, the agency said in its annual terrorism threat assessment report. Social media and online gaming platforms have enabled like-minded individuals to connect across borders, forming a “virtual caliphate” where they can propagate their support for terrorist groups. “While the platforms themselves are innocuous, terrorists and extremists have co-opted their features for recruitment and radicalization. There is a ready source of extremist material on social media, replicated on various online platforms, which are easily accessible,” ISD said in its report.
“Beyond terrorist propaganda, social media also provides easy access to sermons of radical or segregationist foreign preachers, entrenching intolerant views that can serve as a pre-cursor to radicalisation,” it added. Since 2015, a total of 11 self-radicalized Singaporeans aged 20 and below have been dealt with under the ISA. The agency noted that five of these youths had plans to carry out attacks in Singapore using easily accessible weapons. Read more at: https://www.todayonline.com/world/growing-concern-youth-radicalism-terrorism-threat-singapore-remains-high-isd-2217661
