I interviewed Peter Hustinx, the EDPS (European Data Protection Supervisor), for the European Biometrics Forum recently. Transcript below. Johnny Ryan: On 3 March, in your preliminary comments on the European Commission’s package of border proposals, you noted that you had not been consulted during the drafting process. Again, your opinion of 26 March 2008 noted … Continue reading My interview with Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor
Author: johnnyryan
Writer & thinker. Chief Policy & Industry Relations Officer at Brave. Author of 'A History of the Internet and the Digital Future' http://amzn.com/1861897774 .
Making better presentations
In 2003, I delivered my worst presentation ever at the podium of the Royal Irish Academy. I stood and read an irrelevant academic paper, to a disinterested audience, and had planned my delivery so poorly that it was necessary to skip paragraphs at random to keep within time. Since then I've looked at how Hardt, … Continue reading Making better presentations
Internet censorship book free to view on Google Books
One of the benefits of having published Countering militant Islamist radicalisation on the Internet: a user driven strategy to recover the web with the Institute of International & European Affairs is that I am free to make the book freely available. It has attracted interest from unforeseen quarters. I recently discovered that it was on … Continue reading Internet censorship book free to view on Google Books
Launch of The Digital Future Consultation project
We've initiated the Digital Future project at the IIEA. Click below to see my intro presentation, outlining 5 strategic questions for Ireland and The Digital Future: The Digital Future Consultation: introduction & policy context Strategic Question #1 Which emerging trends are potentially dominant in the digital sector? Strategic Question #2 How can Ireland take advantage … Continue reading Launch of The Digital Future Consultation project
The Talk of The Year
Swiss Government CT paper: “Internet governance: why openness is security”
I spoke on the issue of Internet governance at the Swiss Government's counter terrorism seminar on 29 April 2008. Here is the presentation. http://www.iiea.com/documents/geneva-ryan-2008 (15 mb)
My interview with Toomas Ilves, President of Estonia, on digital infrastructure
I interviewed Toomas Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia, on 15 April 2008, about digital infrastructure, the DDOS attacks, and the future of digital competitiveness.
Associated Press picks up on my take on iWar
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iOa2mqt5DXi7h40NageheWNxCyTQD8VPR7JG0 The Associated Press report that: NATO needs to gear up for “iWar” — systematic attacks on the Web that could disrupt commerce worldwide by using crippling computer worms to shut down consumer online services such as Internet banking — warns Johnny Ryan, a researcher with the Institute of International and European Affairs. “iWar will … Continue reading Associated Press picks up on my take on iWar
New project: The Digital Competitiveness Report
On 1 May, I will be starting a round of high-level stakeholder consultations on behalf of the Institute of International & European Affairs on means to maintain Ireland's competitive edge and the implications of change in the Digital Future. I anticipate the report being delivered to Government in September. Here below Peter Sutherland, Chairman of … Continue reading New project: The Digital Competitiveness Report
Interview with head of Frontex
I interviewed Ilkka Laitinen, Director of Frontex, the EU border security agency, for the European Biometrics Forum yesterday. Audio is online here (mp3). Transcript is at the European Biometrics Forum page here. Use these links to skip to relevant parts of the transcript. (0:00) The future of Frontex and its role . <!--[if supportFields]> PAGEREF … Continue reading Interview with head of Frontex
Short interview on the future of Biometrics
I interviewed Frank Paul, Head of Large-Scale Information Systems, at the European Commission DG FSJ, about the future of biometrics in the European Union... The Interview was for the European Biometrics Forum, where I am Project Manager. Read the Interview with Frank Paul in PDF
My research plan – ‘Online Islamist militant discussion: does the Internet atomise?’
Note: Since I am writing a book on the value of 'openness' on the Internet, I have begun to appreciate the worth of making what might otherwise be defendend as intellectual property public. Here follows a stripped down and un footnoted version of my PhD plan. I will be completing this research between now and … Continue reading My research plan – ‘Online Islamist militant discussion: does the Internet atomise?’
Pluscarden paper
I spoke at the Pluscarden Conference last weekend. Here's the paper. The Internet: empowering end users to seize the new high ground Johnny Ryan, Senior Researcher, Institute of International & European Affairs A new high ground The problem we face is at the nexus of two key trends: the democratisation of communications driven by user … Continue reading Pluscarden paper
New article in openDemocracy – iWar: pirates, states and the internet
Full story http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/iwar_pirates_states_and_the_internet I have introduced the term "iWar" (in an piece in NATO Review [Winter 2007], as well as this longer openDemocracy article) to denote attacks carried out over the internet that target the consumer internet infrastructure, such as the websites that provide access to online banking services. In this understanding, iWar is distinct … Continue reading New article in openDemocracy – iWar: pirates, states and the internet
What issues to monitor when discussing digital competitiveness for Ireland?
I'm putting together a document at work that will define the scope of our Digital Future group. The question is, what issues should be included and why if the group is to examine digital competitiveness in Ireland in the coming years? In 1999 the Government's Action Plan to Implement the Information Society noted that: "we … Continue reading What issues to monitor when discussing digital competitiveness for Ireland?
Irish Independent – coverage of O’Reilly Foundation Scholarship
I was profiled in the Irish Independent in an article about the O'Reilly Scholarship: "...his first book, 'Countering Militant Islamist Radicalisation on the Internet', which was launched last year by the former chair of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee, Dame Pauline Neville-Jones. The book argued against the European Commission's suggestion of using internet censorship to … Continue reading Irish Independent – coverage of O’Reilly Foundation Scholarship
BBC interviews – on the UK Home Secretary’s proposals
There was little detail in the speech by the UK Home Secretary yesterday, but one possibility is that the CleanFeed system of hybrid URL filtering might be applied to attempt censorship of radical material on the Internet. I was interviewed for the BBC World News Service and BBC Radio's Simon Mayo programme. One thought which … Continue reading BBC interviews – on the UK Home Secretary’s proposals
Reuters – on the UK proposals on militant websites
"...experts have expressed serious doubts about what can be effective to prevent radicalisation over the Internet, saying little research has been carried out. Johnny Ryan, Senior Researcher at Dublin's Institute of International and European Affairs, has told Reuters that users could easily circumvent any restrictions imposed by the authorities. Web sites could relocate from one … Continue reading Reuters – on the UK proposals on militant websites
NATO Review: “iWar”
Title: “iWar”: A new threat, its convenience – and our increasing vulnerability. See news coverage of this article at Associated Press. With a computer in virtually every home and office, the chances for mass communication are better than ever before. But how well protected are we if that communication is malicious or hostile? … Continue reading NATO Review: “iWar”
European Commission’s official impact assessment rules out Internet censorship – and cites my study
The European Commission's impact assessment on Vice President Frattini's Internet censorship proposals was made public on 6 November 2007. My book was cited (10 citations of 112 total) in the report, which happily concluded that censorship was not a practical response to violent radicalisation on the Internet. This is a major event in the debate … Continue reading European Commission’s official impact assessment rules out Internet censorship – and cites my study
My review of Paul Rogers’ Towards sustainable security
My review of Rogers' Towards sustainable security is online on Nthposition. [link]
Speech at the OSCE experts meeting on violent radicalisation
I spoke recently at the OSCE's restricted experts meeting on means to counter radicalisation to terrorism on the Internet. See coverage by Reuters here. This is a draft transcript of my speech ---------------------- Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, I should like at the outset to recognise and acknowledge the very valuable work done by the OSCE … Continue reading Speech at the OSCE experts meeting on violent radicalisation
Reuters – on OSCE experts meeting…
Reuters reported on some of our presentations at the OSCE annual experts meeting on violent radicalisation on the Internet. Full story here Governments struggle as militants refine Web tactics Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:53am EST By Alexandra Zawadil VIENNA (Reuters) - Islamist militants are becoming more skilled at tailoring their message to specific audiences, including … Continue reading Reuters – on OSCE experts meeting…
Europe, terrorism and the internet
This is a new article I published on openDemocracy (http://www.opendemocracy.net) European Union member-state governments are increasingly aware of the danger of terrorism perpetrated within their own borders - sometimes by their own citizens. From late 2005 onwards, the European commission and justice and home affairs (JHA) council of ministers have rightly begun to place a … Continue reading Europe, terrorism and the internet
Reuters – Experts say West can’t stop Web radicalisation
Michael Holden's piece for which he interviewed me is at Reuters http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2658640020071106 the same day that I was interviewed on the same topic by FM4 Radio (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) http://www.iiea.com/audio/jryaninternet.mp3 Print This Article Experts say West can't stop Web radicalisation Tue Nov 6, 2007 3:51pm GMT By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - From behind a … Continue reading Reuters – Experts say West can’t stop Web radicalisation
The Four P-Words of Militant Islamist Radicalization and Recruitment: Persecution, Precedent, Piety, and Perseverance
Published in: Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Volume 30, Issue 11 November 2007 , pages 985 - 1011 Abstract: This article suggests that a single interpretative framework can be used to understand Islamist militant rhetoric, and to compare it to supposedly more orthodox campaigns such as Irish Republican militancy, differences of culture, scale, and lethality. … Continue reading The Four P-Words of Militant Islamist Radicalization and Recruitment: Persecution, Precedent, Piety, and Perseverance
iWar
Published in TCSDaily http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=071807B, 13 August 2007. The "virtual siege" of Estonia in which distributed denial of service attacks shut down important banking, government and media websites throughout late April and May 2007 is an example of "iWar". The Estonian example should be considered as a sign of things to come. A short time from … Continue reading iWar
The militant Islamist call and its echo
Published on openDemocracy (http://opendemocracy.net/article/democracy_terror/islamism_web) On the internet, in gymnasiums, bookshops and video-clubs, recruitment propaganda is viewed by and debated among prospective Islamist militants. This wide-ranging material contains four recurrent themes; understanding them is the first step to forming an effective counter-narrative to dissuade the next generation of would-be militants from embracing violence, and channelling their … Continue reading The militant Islamist call and its echo
EU should not attempt to censor the ‘Net
I was interviewed about this on RTE's Prime Time TV programme, 5 July 2007. Adrian Lydon's report, and my contribution to it, are available here. See also my letter to The Times (London), published on 6 July 2007. See EU JHA Commissioner Frattini's remarks on a proposal to censor bomb-making material on the Internet, as … Continue reading EU should not attempt to censor the ‘Net
Europe’s World article: security & defence dossier “EU must take its anti-terrorism fight to the Internet”
DOSSIER SECURITY AND DEFENCE: EU must take its anti-terrorism fight to the Internet by Johnny Ryan [profile] See article on Europe's World website. Johnny Ryan leads the radicalisation & recruitment project at the Institute of European Affairs, an Irish policy think-tank. Militant Islamist radicalisation and recruitment on the Internet is a strategic problem. In the … Continue reading Europe’s World article: security & defence dossier “EU must take its anti-terrorism fight to the Internet”
Review of “Countering Islamist Militancy on the Internet”
“Ryan offers a comprehensive policy-based solution to the issue of militant Islamist rhetoric on the internet. … This book demystifies the “intellectual-unknown” of the internet and its use by groups such as al-Qaeda. ... The book represents the unique and positive contribution that Irish defence scholars can make at EU and international level” - The … Continue reading Review of “Countering Islamist Militancy on the Internet”
New Book
Countering Militant Islamist Radicalisation on the Internet: a User Driven Strategy to Recover the Web 160pp, ISBN: 1-874-109-86-9, hardback. Order from Amazon. Read online on Google Books. By Johnny Ryan, Senior Researcher. Foreword by Alan Dukes, Director General of the IEA, and former Minister for Justice and for Finance. Order from Amazon. Praise "Internet communities … Continue reading New Book
Radicalisation & recruitment on the internet: Policy responses & implications.
UPDATED THIS PROJECT HAS CONCLUDED. Most of the resulting materials have been made openly available. See My 2007 book [buy it on Amazon] or [read it free at Google Books] and my related articles which are more up to date. Also, I have now initiated a new phase in this research, finally returning to Cambridge … Continue reading Radicalisation & recruitment on the internet: Policy responses & implications.
Integration of immigrants and US fears of militant Islamism in the EU
Published as Institute of European Affairs Justice & Home Affairs Update, April 2006 [To see the original JHA UPDATE for April 2006, browse to http://www.iiea.com/newsletter/april2006/jhaapril06full.html%5D Welcome to the first JHA update of 2006. This service from the Institute of European Affairs will regularly update you about developments in Justice & Home Affairs (JHA). JHA is … Continue reading Integration of immigrants and US fears of militant Islamism in the EU
Islamists on the internet: brotherhood of belief
This title should have read "Islamist militants on the Internet". Published in Magill, May 2005. In Britain the speed with which the Muslim diaspora embraced the internet was demonstrated by the British Muslim Parliament's order to all mosques and Muslim schools to install web access as early as 1996. With so many young Muslims in … Continue reading Islamists on the internet: brotherhood of belief
Complexity in the war on terror
Published in Magill, March 2005. Note: This article was a rebuttal of Dr Millar's piece, 'No surrender to holy terrorists', which appeared in the same pages. In the previous article, Rory Miller of King’s College London writes that we in the West must not compromise with what he calls ‘Holy Terror’. He suggests that all … Continue reading Complexity in the war on terror
Assessing the recommendations of the coalition for a realistic foreign policy in their January 2005 statement in the Economist.
"Americans should be deeply concerned that we are so unpopular in the region inasmuch as it makes it harder, rather than easier, for us to achieve our major national security objectives in the Middle East".[1] In The Economist’s first edition of 2005, the coalition for a realistic foreign policy (‘the coalition’ hereafter) published a statement … Continue reading Assessing the recommendations of the coalition for a realistic foreign policy in their January 2005 statement in the Economist.
Unipolar moment or unipolar era?
UNIPOLAR MOMENT OR UNIPOLAR ERA: THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S ASSERTIVE GRAND STRATEGY February 2005. In the run up to the 2000 election, Condoleezza Rice laid out the central tenet of candidate Bush’s foreign policy manifesto: ‘Foreign policy in a Republican administration will … proceed from the firm ground of the national interest, not from the … Continue reading Unipolar moment or unipolar era?
Principled failure: British policy toward Rhodesia, 1971-72
The History Review 2004. Copyright Johnny Ryan 2004. INTRODUCTION The choice lies starkly between a compromise settlement, which by definition will not satisfy anyone but which will gain for the Africans substantial new opportunities for advancement, and a rapid and complete polarisation of the races and the prospect of conflict.[1] In May 1972 the Foreign … Continue reading Principled failure: British policy toward Rhodesia, 1971-72
Dr Johnny Ryan FRHistS 