Pupils’ internet activity being monitored through anti-radicalization software

Schools are now being sold software’s to be able to monitor the internet activity of their students to look for language which may be related to extremism. A number of companies have now begun to produce anti-radicalization software so that the internet activity of pupils can be kept a check on. This has begun as part of a legal requirement on schools to look into issues of extremism and terrorism amongst the children who study in the schools.

Part of the Counter terrorism and Security Act of 2015 which was to come into effect on the 1st of July states that schools now have a requirement to have due regard for the needs of  the students and to prevent them from being pulled into terrorism.

Impero is one such company which has launched its pilot software in 16 various locations in the UK along with 5 in the US. The software produced by them allows teachers to be able to take screen shots of anything which the software flags as a cause of concern. A glossary of terms and words which trigger such a red flag has also been created by Impero and words within the glossary consist of “jihobbyist”- someone who shows sympathy towards a jihadi organization but isn’t actively part of it or “Message to America” which is an Islamic State series of videos regarding their propaganda and many others.

Those schools which have already begun to make use of the pilot software of Impero do have contracts to either buy or rent out other kinds of software from the same company and are being given the option of trying out the anti-radicalization software free of charge.

According to a spokesperson for Impero, the latest Security Act has placed a duty on schools to prevent students from being drawn into terrorism and with the introduction of the act, Impero has been approached a great deal by a number of schools who have requested a keyword detection policy to be designed which focuses greatly on radicalization.

The system is the kind which helps teachers identify and confirm children who may be in a vulnerable state and can even help to identify those who may be at a risk for being vulnerable in the future. It also gives teachers as well as child protection officers the ability to intervene and to support a child if required and to do so in a timely and proper manner.

The idea is not to criminalize children but it is simply to help schools in spotting any early warning signs which could prevent the heightening of risk which could then be assessed and measured in a timely manner and the children could be educated prior to becoming a victim of radicalization. Various schools however are interpreting the clause in the Security Act differently with some stating that it is difficult for schools to get involved in the matter. Other schools are simply stating that they are aware that they should take the issue into consideration whereas others seem to be more proactive about it. Thus, every school is seen to be interpreting the news and latest Security Act in a different manner.