UK ‘first in Europe’ for online extremism
Report says UK public would support new laws criminalising the consumption of terror content

The UK is the heaviest consumer of online jihadist propaganda in Europe and the fifth highest in the world, according to a new report from the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange
The report, titled The NewNetwar, says extremists are using a “vast ecosystem” of platforms, including encrypted messaging apps and other social media outlets, reaching tens of thousands of people around the globe.
“The jihadist are increasingly relying on ‘swarmcast’ technology – an interconnected network that constantly reconfigures itself and is highly resilient to disruption,” The Guardian says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Police Exchange says the UK public would likely support toughers laws to criminalise the consumption of material that promotes terrorism.
“Under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000,” the BBC says, “it is currently an offence to possess information that could assist a would-be terrorist, but not material which glorifies terrorism.”
The report also says that, contrary to other claims, the output of extremist content has remained consistent over the past three years, despite groups such as Islamic State suffering heavy losses in that time.
“An average week will see over 100 new core articles, videos and newspapers produced by Isis and disseminated across a vast ecosystem of platforms, file-sharing services, websites and social media,” it says.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine solutions - April 4, 2025
Feature Issue - April 4, 2025
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - April 4, 2025
Feature Issue - April 4, 2025
By The Week Staff Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The resurgence of the Taliban in Pakistan
Under the Radar Islamabad blames Kabul for sheltering jihadi fighters terrorising Pakistan's borderlands
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Islamic State: the terror group's second act
Talking Point Isis has carried out almost 700 attacks in Syria over the past year, according to one estimate
By The Week UK Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published