EU IRU Finishes Fifth Online Extremist Content Operation

Europol and Interpol, during an operation that lasted less than a week, “assessed” 1,628 files “of terrorist, violent and extremist content” from the internet—both on the darknet and clearnet. The majority of the material, Europol said, came from 38 different online platforms. The decision to remove the content, following discovery by Europol’s internet detectives, was ultimately in the hands of the hosting provider, the press release explained.

The event, a “joint operation to flag online terrorist content,” was Europol’s fifth operation of the sort. In addition to working with Interpol, Europol received assistance from partners in Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. “The activities focused mainly on the online production of terrorist material by IS and al-Qaeda affiliated media outlets,” Europol said.

“A particular finding of this operation was the identification of terrorist content on the Darknet links to open web shared on designated Darknet libraries. Europol’s Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU), composed of specialists, analysts, translators and counter-terrorism experts, teamed up with their counterparts to coordinate a swift removal of propagandistic terrorist messages present on the internet.”

Europol’s Internet Referral Unit is a division of Europol dedicated to removing the terrorist “and violent extremist” propaganda on the internet. The IRU reaches this end by seeking out the extremist content and then literally referring it towards internet service providers and relevant EU member states. Europol launched the EU IRU in 2015 to combat extremist content such as bomb-making guides and pictures of beheadings.

Europol Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, on the topic of the IRU’s importance:

“The recent terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait have shown once again how important it is to combat terrorist threats with determination. The establishment of the EU Internet Referral Unit is one of the first deliverables of the European Agenda on Security.

It will provide operational support to Member States on how to tackle more effectively the challenges of detecting and removing the increasing volume of terrorist material on the internet and in social media. The launch of this important initiative is the result of our common efforts. The success of this initiative will depend on the continued good cooperation and contributions from all stakeholders.”

The core tasks, according to a Europol press release:

• Coordinates and shares the identification tasks (flagging) of terrorist and violent extremist online content with relevant partners;
• Carries out and supports referrals quickly, efficiently and effectively, in close cooperation;
• Supports competent authorities, by providing strategic analysis and operational analysis;
• Acts as a European Centre of Excellence for the above tasks

Between the unit’s inception in March 2015 and July 2016, the IRU had removed roughly 11,000 associated with extremist propaganda from 70 different sites and platforms. They reported that more than 90% of internet service providers responded to their referrals. The current success rate is not known, although content publishers are reportedly better prepared at relocating the extremist media than in previous years.