You may not like Google, but check out how they are helping to fight ISIS

Last updated on: February 12, 2016 at 10:11 am by Nancy French

You may not like Google, but check out how they are helping to fight ISIS 2016-02-12T10:11:31-05:00 Nancy French

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We have all seen images depicting the horrors of ISIS. They conduct mass beheadings, engage in sex trafficking and slavery, and are always looking to find ever-more-grotesque ways to kill anyone who refuses to bow before them.

But now Google is making it harder for ISIS to recruit hundreds if not thousands of youth from every culture and every country to join their terrorist network. Fox News has more details:

Last week, Anthony House, the senior manager for public policy and communications at Google, revealed plans to show users anti-radicalization links in response to terrorism-related searches. The plan was outlined before a committee of the British parliament dedicated to counter-terrorism. …

The idea, the Internet giant says, is to provide a sort of alternative narrative to those looking for information about extremism. In a statement, a Google spokesperson further explained, “What was referenced is a pilot Google AdWords Grants program that’s in the works right now with a handful of eligible non-profit organizations. The program enables NGOs to place counter-radicalization ads against search queries of their choosing.” …

And while Google ads may not be a comprehensive solution, it’s certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to using tech to fight the bad guys.

This is exactly right. Clearly Google’s efforts are not enough to defeat ISIS. Everyone wants to find an easy solution, a silver bullet. My husband David French has written extensively about the various ideas that won’t beat ISIS:

Rather than argue that any given tactic is the magic bullet against ISIS, the focus should be on an effective strategy — and then vowing to use the force necessary to implement that strategy. This would be the opposite of the Obama administration’s approach. Obama leads with limitations — no substantial boots on the ground, substantial limits on the use of force, substantial limitations on arming allies — and then asks for victory. A true commander-in-chief demands victory and then provides the force and enables the strategy that makes victory possible.

Against an enemy as motivated as ISIS — inspiring millions with the potent combination of a millennium-old theological argument and stunning battlefield victories — we must resist the temptation to believe that victory will be easy or cheap. Obama has been weak, but demonstrating strength isn’t like flipping a switch from defeat to victory. Strength is a prerequisite for victory, but strength alone won’t defeat ISIS, especially if it’s deployed in service of bad ideas.

However, it’s good to see a completely private company doing its part to stop ISIS recruitment. Google seems to be experimenting and innovating to do everything it can.

Now, if only the U.S. government took the same tact and was willing to do everything it could to stop ISIS once and for all.

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