Hate Is More Popular Than Ever

Hate is in this year, even 2.0 style. A recent report documents the largest spike in digital hate Web sites and online posts in the last decade. With the benefit of Web 2.0 technologies, online hate activities have jumped 30% in the past year, according to a report by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization.

The spike in the number is primarily because of the increasing availability of the viral, repetitious [applications] and an increase outside the U.S. by extremist try to get their pitch across. The terrorist groups and those who support them are at the cutting edge of technology,

according to Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center.

Terrorist activities have spawned SMS2US, created by the Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance, for "inspirational" Short Messaging Service messages that are overlaid onto videos of attacks against coalition forces. And, the Media Sword Campaign, an effort by al-Qaeda to use discussion forums to get support for jihad (holy war) and to recruit hackers for its cause.

These activities should alert people to the fact that the technology lowers the barrier of entry for terrorists yet is an effective tool for the crafty practioner. The terrorists exploit educational tools much quicker and faster than educators generally seem capable of.