Policy Exchange welcomes Home Secretary’s announcement on tackling online extremism

Responding to the Home Secretary’s announcement at the Conservative party conference today, Dr Martyn Frampton, Policy Exchange’s Co-Head of Security and Extremism and lead author of our recent publication The New Netwar, said:

“Policy Exchange’s recent report on online extremism found that IS’s output is not falling and that the U.K. is the fifth most common source of clicks on their content worldwide. Accessing extremist content online is an increasing feature of terrorism offences here in the U.K. 

“We welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement that the government will look to pursue tougher sentences for people convicted of consuming terrorist content. The proposed inclusion of content viewed or streamed online (rather than just downloaded) updates the offence and reflects how material is accessed. We hope judges will use these extended powers and impose tougher sentences to ensure extremists are punished properly.”