Counter Extremism Project: Tech Companies’ Hashing Technology a Step in the Right Direction, Raises Significant Questions

Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), issued the following statement today in response to the announcement by technology companies of an image and video hashing effort targeting extremist content online:

“The Counter Extremism Project is pleased that social media companies, with support from the European Union, are adopting technology that will help remove extremist content from their platforms.

Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Appoints Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly As Advisory Board Member

(New York, NY) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a not-for-profit, non-partisan, international policy organization formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideology, today announced the addition of the former Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, Raymond W. Kelly, to its Advisory Board.

“The Counter Extremism Project is honored to have Commissioner Kelly join our advisory board,” said Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project. “He brings vast, unparalleled experience, knowledge and expertise to the issues central to our organization, and we look forward to benefitting from his insights to increase our effectiveness in countering extremist propaganda and denying extremists the material resources they depend upon to wage war and recruit followers.”

“Ray Kelly’s understanding of the complex and ever changing nature of the extremist threat to public safety is unparalleled,” said CEP Advisory Board Member and former U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman. "It will be a great privilege to work with him to help make CEP’s programs and initiatives stronger and more effective.”

Counter Extremism Project Unveils Technology to Combat Online Extremism

New algorithm will quickly and accurately identify extremist content on Internet and social media platforms, including images, videos, and audio clips

(New York, NY) — The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) announced yesterday the development of a technological solution that will allow Internet and social media companies to quickly remove extremist content from their platforms, coming on the heels of President Obama's remarks Tuesday that online extremist propaganda is pervasive and easily accessible. The application of this new technology will greatly reduce the ability of extremists and terrorists to weaponize online platforms to radicalize, recruit, and incite to violence.

“If we seize this opportunity and have partners across the social media spectrum willing to fight the extremist threat by deploying this technology, extremists will find Internet and social media platforms far less available for their recruiting, fundraising, propagandizing, and calls to violence,” said CEP Senior Advisor Dr. Hany Farid. “It is no longer a matter of not having the technological ability to fight online extremism, it is a matter of the industry and private sector partners having the will to take action.”