The influence of online extremism and terrorism on national security has increased. This finding emerged from various analyses performed in the context of the National Counterterrorism Strategy for 2022-2026, the Terrorist Threat Assessment for the Netherlands (DTN) (editions 57 and 58) and the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). Extremists and terrorists use the internet and social media channels to spread their political ideologies and form movements. This threat extends across various ideological currents, including jihadism, right-wing extremism and anti-institutional extremism.
Responsibility of the internet sector
The internet sector has a key responsibility when it comes to combating online extremism and terrorism. The government is asking the sector to protect the public as much as possible. The sector must comply, for example, with new statutory obligations laid down in the EU’s Terrorist Content Online Regulation and Digital Services Act.
Legislation
The Terrorist Content Online Regulation requires social media platforms to disable access to terrorist content within one hour of receipt of a removal order. The Authority for the Prevention of Online Terrorist Content and Child Sexual Abuse Material (ATKM) is responsible for implementing this measure. The ATKM works actively with government partners, the internet sector and the authorities of other member states to keep the internet free wherever possible of terrorist (and child sexual abuse) content. If internet companies are unable to meet their obligations, the ATKM can impose an administrative fine or an order subject to a penalty.
In addition, the EU rules laid down in the Digital Services Act (DSA) aim to protect the fundamental rights of EU citizens and reduce their exposure to harmful, misleading and illegal content online. In addition to their statutory obligations, online platforms still bear primary responsibility for protecting users from extremist and terrorist content as much as possible.
Enhanced Approach Online
In order to promote online safety, the Dutch government is developing an Enhanced Approach Online to extremist and terrorist content. This approach is not only aimed at combating radicalisation and online extremism and terrorism, but also focuses on prevention and bolstering our resilience. The Enhanced Approach Online has four main thrusts:
- Cooperation with the internet sector
- Stricter legislation
- Support for the local approach and prevention efforts, such as bolstering resilience and enhancing media awareness
- Joint efforts at EU and international level
The Enhanced Approach Online includes the findings of various research studies. Protecting fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression, remains a key basic principle. This requires striking a careful balance when taking measures to combat radicalisation and promote online safety. Freedom and security are not opposites. Balancing them requires constant assessment and alertness, so that the internet remains a space where fundamental rights are protected and abuses tackled. Anything that is illegal offline must be illegal online too.