It鈥檚 been a couple of weeks since armed gunmen perpetrated coordinated attacks in Paris, claiming 130 lives, injuring scores more and giving the world yet another unneeded dose of terror and fear-based Islamic suspicion.
While some were falling right into the ISIS plans of creating an 鈥渦s鈥� and 鈥渢hem鈥� mentality by rejecting Syrian refugees, others were asking, 鈥淲hat can we do to combat these types of divisive terrorist acts?鈥�
For France, it was immediate airstrikes on supposed ISIS strongholds and bases. They declared war on ISIS, which actually legitimizes the group, because you usually declare war on a state or country. Cowardly people who fire weapons at innocent and unarmed civilians, those people you bring to justice like any other criminals, in my opinion.聽
In addition to taking the fight to ISIS territory, another group, the hacker/activists known as Anonymous, took the fight into the online realm. While France and other countries were trying to take out terrorist boots on the ground, Anonymous started taking care of how the terrorists communicate and coordinate online. You see, just like you and me, these radicals also use things like Facebook, Twitter and chat rooms, but not to share pictures of cats or family updates, but rather to secretly plan their heinous and ungodly crimes. Following the Paris attacks, one Belgian security expert said ISIS and other terrorist groups use the Playstation 4 network to chat. Apparently it鈥檚 pretty hard to track, because you can create these private chat rooms quickly and easily. They apparently use other gaming and social media platforms to communicate as well, but it鈥檚 more disturbing for a hardcore gamer like myself to imagine people using the innocent entertainment system as a means to further terror and radical agendas. It鈥檚 like using a kid鈥檚 Fisher-Price phone to make a ransom call or something. It鈥檚 plain old moustache-twirling dastardly, if you ask me. Twitter is also apparently another prime medium for ISIS, and their supporters.聽
So, Anonymous has taken it upon themselves to take out ISIS Twitter accounts and restrict the group鈥檚 communications as much as possible. Within days of the Paris massacre, Anonymous said it had taken down between 5,000 and 20,000 ISIS Twitter accounts (depending on your news source). Some have criticized Anonymous though, as there is a possibility that some of those Twitter accounts were not actually ISIS accounts, but rather people who support some of their agenda or who retweeted stuff they posted.聽
However, I really don鈥檛 have a problem with the hacker group messing with anyone who supports, agrees or associates with murderous and tyrannical criminals. And I truly support someone who is able to tackle these folks without using violence. Violence in Iraq and elsewhere is what created the conditions which created ISIS and other similar radical groups. Violence is what continues to keep recruits coming in, as well. Years and years of fighting has only seemed to make things worse鈥� or is it just me? To me, darkness doesn鈥檛 combat darkness, but rather light.
So, for me, the world needs to shine its non-violent light to make things right again. We need to fight fear with hope and compassion. Fight divisive tactics by being welcoming. Fight single-minded extremism with acceptance. And fight those who want to see the destruction of the western world鈥檚 way of life with a piece of that world itself: pop music.聽
You see, in addition to taking down supposed ISIS Twitter accounts, Anonymous is also doing something called 鈥淩ick Rolling.鈥� That鈥檚 a popular online prank where people get tricked into watching a video of 鈥�80s pop star Rick Astley singing his famous song 鈥淣ever Gonna Give You Up.鈥� Yeah, that鈥檚 right. Thanks to Anonymous鈥檚 efforts, whenever anyone online spreads messages or retweets ISIS propaganda or plans, the hacker activists spam the feed with Rick Rolls, so all the terrorists get is a constant barrage of that mindless 鈥�80s ditty.聽
It must be driving them absolutely crazy鈥� and that for the first time since the attacks two weeks ago, has put a smile on my face.聽
So, if the attacks in Paris have you on edge, wondering what kind of world we live in, just take a page from Rick Astley鈥檚 book and don鈥檛 give up.聽
