Although world leaders, including the UN as well as state governments, seem to be failing to efficiently combat the spread of terrorist ideologies, Google takes huge steps in preventing extremism as well as educating and redirecting potential terrorists. In a smart move, Google, the number one search engine of the world, decided to redirect extremist searches towards anti-radicalization websites. There are tons of anti-radicalization advertisements, websites, and educational resources on the internet, however they only reach people who are interested in them. Although such information was designed to reach and educate potential terrorists, they rarely influence them.
In fact, technology has been used by extremists to recruit members and improve their terror knowledge. Google has unwillingly been contributing to the anti-human goals of terrorists since it has been used to teach terror activities and locate terrorist groups. However recent arrangement of this eighteen years old genius website prove once again that the aim of technology is to improve the human life and experiences. As a Google official said: “It is important that users find a community of hope, not a community of harm”, therefore in this new aim, people who look for terror and extreme ideas, will be redirected to anti-terror/ anti- radicalization sources. Such action increases the opportunity for prospective terror members to learn alternative behaviors or rethink their decisions.
As a human rights activist, I would like to thank Google, not only because it always makes my life easier as researcher, but also for taking their part in saving human lives, and coming to the rescue. I hope governments and world leaders learn from Google to rethink their actions and put the safety and needs of mankind above their own personal power.
Hawraa Zakery
February 1st, 2016
Although world leaders, including the UN as well as state governments, seem to be failing to efficiently combat the spread of terrorist ideologies, Google takes huge steps in preventing extremism as well as educating and redirecting potential terrorists. In a smart move, Google, the number one search engine of the world, decided to redirect extremist searches towards anti-radicalization websites. There are tons of anti-radicalization advertisements, websites, and educational resources on the internet, however they only reach people who are interested in them. Although such information was designed to reach and educate potential terrorists, they rarely influence them.
In fact, technology has been used by extremists to recruit members and improve their terror knowledge. Google has unwillingly been contributing to the anti-human goals of terrorists since it has been used to teach terror activities and locate terrorist groups. However recent arrangement of this eighteen years old genius website prove once again that the aim of technology is to improve the human life and experiences. As a Google official said: “It is important that users find a community of hope, not a community of harm”, therefore in this new aim, people who look for terror and extreme ideas, will be redirected to anti-terror/ anti- radicalization sources. Such action increases the opportunity for prospective terror members to learn alternative behaviors or rethink their decisions.
As a human rights activist, I would like to thank Google, not only because it always makes my life easier as researcher, but also for taking their part in saving human lives, and coming to the rescue. I hope governments and world leaders learn from Google to rethink their actions and put the safety and needs of mankind above their own personal power.
Hawraa Zakery
February 1st, 2016
