Aberdeen Block Extremists from WiFi

Aberdeen City Council takes steps to ensure that public WiFi will not be used to access extremist materials.

16:17 01 May 2019

Aberdeen City Council has completed a raft of terror prevention measures, including blocking extremist websites on public internet services. Aside from content related to extremist groups, anyone using the public internet network in the city will also be blocked from websites showing explicit violence, drug and child abuse, pornography and phishing websites to rob people.

 

 

 

The measures were taken after the UK government gave local authorities the responsibility to help prevent atrocities. The goal of the initiative is to help communities protect themselves, prevent radicalisation and help those who have been lured into terror groups to break free.

 

 

 

Committee convener Jennifer Stewart said: “I think the council and all partners involved have done remarkable work in getting to this point.

 

 

 

“We need to ensure that the public wifi cannot be accessed for extremist materials as this committee’s job is protection of the public.

 

 

 

“It is not about scaremongering but being vigilant. In these days of social media the internet can lure people into this behaviour and it is right that we are mindful of this.”