Anwar al-Awlaki

Anwar al-Awlaki was a U.S.-Yemeni dual citizen and longtime cleric, propagandist, and operative for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). On September 30, 2011, Awlaki was targeted and killed in Yemen in the first U.S. drone strike to deliberately target a U.S. citizen. While he was alive, Awlaki directed a number of terrorist plots against the United States, and disseminated English- and Arabic-language videos, audio recordings, and articles online.

Anwar al-Awlaki’s Ties to Extremists

In the Counter Extremism Project’s online resource, Anwar al-Awlaki’s Ties to Extremists, CEP has counted 99 extremists with ties to Anwar al-Awlaki.

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Anwar al-Awlaki on YouTube

YouTube's features has served to lure users to extremist content on YouTube, despite CEP's calls for YouTube to cease hosting Awlaki content.

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Anwar al-Awlaki and Google’s Counter-Narrative Program

In February 2016, Google (YouTube’s parent company) announced plans to divert its users away from extremist content towards counter-narratives meant to challenge the appeal of extremist material.

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News and Blogs

News

Daily Express: The hate-filled views of the late al-Awlaki and el-Faisal are still being shared on websites 15 years after 7/7 attack

CEP Executive Director David Ibsen writes: "The repeated failure to properly regulate hate speech on social media platforms has consistently facilitated the radicalization of extremists across the nation.  The ease of access to hyperviolent imagery…

Press Release

Over 100 Anwar Al-Awlaki Videos Found on YouTube

Report Marks Second Time Awlaki’s Propaganda Re-uploaded to Platform (New York, N.Y.) - On December 5, The Times (London) reported its discovery of over 100 radicalizing extremist videos from notorious al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki on Google-…

News

The Times: YouTube still hosting lectures by Islamist hate preacher Anwar al-Awlaki

"Lectures by an Islamist hate preacher whose teachings helped to radicalise the London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan have been found on YouTube years after experts warned of the dangers they present. The Counter Extremism Project (CEP), which aims to…

News

The Scottish Sun: WEB OF HATE YouTube STILL hosting more than 100 videos by hate preacher who inspired London Bridge attacker years after being told

"Lectures by an Islamist hate preacher who helped radicalise London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan have been found on YouTube years after experts warned they fuel extremism. Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone strike in Yemen eight years ago…

Tech & Terrorism Blog

Extremism Spotlight: Yusuf al-Qaradawi Benefits From Legitimization Through Social Media

Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Islamist Maintains Extensive Online Presence Despite Extremist Rhetoric Seven years ago, notorious AQAP propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in a U.S. drone strike; but even in his death, his works and lectures…

Tech & Terrorism Blog

YouTube Must Remove Remaining Anwar al-Awlaki Content

CEP Reports Findings Regarding Extremist Content Online Every week, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) releases a report detailing the way extremists interact online, explaining current trends and how they are misusing the Internet and social…

News

PBS: The Open Mind

CEP CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace and Senior Advisor, Dartmouth College computer scientist Dr. Hany Farid, discuss the successful campaign to remove thousands of Anwar al-Awlaki videos from YouTube and how existing technologies can impact the…

Press Release

Extremist Propagandists and Ideologues Maintain Presence Online

(New York, NY) – YouTube’s November 2017 decision to remove the videos of notorious al-Qaeda propagandist and recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki was a long overdue step in the right direction, but many more radicalizing propagandists and ideologues have been…

CounterPoint Blog

YouTube: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

YouTube’s actions continue to fall short of its rhetoric when it comes to fighting extremism. Despite very public announcements of new technologies, more content reviewers, and a stated dedication to preventing terrorists and extremist groups from…

Press Release

ICYMI: The Case for Removing Extremist Videos From the Internet

New York Times: The Case for Removing Extremist Videos From the Internet In an op-ed published on December 1 in the New York Times, CEP CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace and President Frances Townsend argue that while YouTube’s removal of lectures…

Daily Dose

Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On March 30, 2020, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber mounted the vehicle of Abdisalan Hasan Hersi, a governor in Somalia’s Puntland, as he parked his car near a police station. The jihadist detonated his explosive device, killing Hersi and seriously wounding a former police commander and a civilian.  

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