News and Media

CEP released a statement in response to a vehicle attack in Lower Manhattan today that read in part: “Today’s vehicle attack in Manhattan, in which the driver of a rental truck drove down a busy bicycle path, killing at least eight people and injuring at least 15 others, is being investigated as an act of terrorism. This attack is a stark reminder that even as U.S.-led forces are pushing back against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the threat of directed and inspired attacks by the terrorist group remains high."

CEP released a statement praising the U.S. Congress for conducting hearings into extremist content and Russian disinformation online. The statement read in part: “Internet and social media companies have a troubling record of denial and inaction when it comes to misuse of their platforms. For example, tech companies have just begun to disclose the extent of Russian-controlled accounts and pages despite reports of such meddling emerging nearly a year ago, which were quickly dismissed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and others. Tech companies must be held accountable if they refuse to act when there is clear misuse of their platforms—whether it concerns Russian meddling or extremists and terrorists spreading their calls to violence."

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, will deliver the keynote address at CEP's November 13 public policy event at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Senator Johnson will join a distinguished group of expert panelists who will address the challenges of extremism and terrorism in an online world.

CEP is providing video highlights and links to news coverage of its October 17-18, conference, Building Alliances—Preventing Terror, in Brussels, Belgium. The conference featured lively discussions among senior policymakers, academics, and the private sector on how to combat the spread of extremism and terrorist propaganda in Europe and online.

Registration is being accepted for CEP's November 13 panel discussion in Washington, D.C. on the challenges of extremism and terrorism in an online world. Speakers will include Dr. Hany Farid, the world’s leading authority on digital forensics; National Security expert and Vice President of the New America Foundation Peter Bergen; and Fran Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush.

CEP will be hosting a distinguished lineup of policy experts as well as current and former lawmakers, including former British Head of Counterterrorism in the FCO Sir Ivor Roberts and EU Commissioner for the Security Union Sir Julian King, at its conference Building Alliances--Preventing Terror, October 17 and 18 in Brussels, Belgium.

CEP will be hosting the Building Alliances--Preventing Terror policy conference on in Brussels, Belgium on October 17 and 18. The event will bring together senior policymakers, academics, industry representatives, NGOs, and the private sector to share innovative ideas for tackling the spread of extremism and terrorist propaganda in Europe and online, countering terror financing, understanding extremist ideologies, and improving community and grassroots engagement.

Six years after his death on September 30, 2011, the teachings of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki , prevalent on platforms like YouTube, continue to radicalize and encourage acts of terrorism in the U.S. and in Europe. In Anwar al-Awlaki's Ties to Extremists , CEP documents 55 U.S. and 34 European extremists who were influenced by Awlaki , the former director of external operations for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The continued presence of lectures by radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki on YouTube contradicts Google’s stated commitment to counteract the dangerous role played by extremist and terrorist content on its video-sharing platform, CEP said in releasing an analysis of Google’s 2016 pledge to divert users away from extremist content towards anti-radicalization material.

Six years after his death, American-born cleric and al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki continues to radicalize U.S. and European extremists in part due to the ubiquity of his sermons and lectures on Google-owned YouTube, CEP said in releasing the updated case study, Anwar al-Awlaki on YouTube .