Bookshelf
Terror on the Internet: The New Arena, the New Challenges reveals that terrorist organizations and their supporters are using the Internet to target diverse audiences. Based on an eight-year study of the World Wide Web conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, author Gabriel Weimann discusses how modern terrorist organizations exploit the Internet to raise funds, recruit members, plan and launch attacks and report results. The book also examines the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures and warns that the cyberwar could harm civil rights. The Internet also enables terrorists to collect information.
The book presents material from the study and earlier studies as well. The first of seven chapters, New Terrorism, New Media, shares the history of the Internet. The second chapter examines the theoretical and conceptual framework for the research. The third chapter shows how terrorist organizations are using the Internet to communicate propaganda, messages and psychological warfare. The fourth chapter presents seven means by which terrorists take advantage of the Internet. The fifth chapter, Cyberterrorism; How Real is the Threat?, discusses how terrorists use the Internet as a weapon. The sixth chapter examines the cyberwar on terrorism. The last chapter, Balancing Security and Civil Liberties, addresses the challenge terrorism brings to modern democracies. The book concludes with policy recommendations.
The book provides a developed analysis of terrorist exploration of the Internet for psychological warfare purposes. Weimann outlines the appropriate responses to the threat and emphasizes the importance of finding the proper balance between security and civil liberties. The author’s conclusions are rooted in evidence.