The shooting of a teenager in a hate-crime attack at a San Diego mosque has sent shockwaves through communities on both sides of the Atlantic. As details emerge of a young life cut short by an ideology of hate, the United Kingdom must confront an uncomfortable truth: our own counter-extremism laws may be ill-equipped to prevent such digital-age radicalisation. The suspect, a 17-year-old male, reportedly consumed far-right content online before targeting worshippers at the Islamic Centre of San Diego.
This is not a problem unique to America. British authorities have warned of a surge in online radicalisation among youth, with algorithms amplifying hate speech faster than legislation can adapt. The current UK counter-extremism framework, the Prevent strategy, focuses on early intervention but struggles to keep pace with encrypted platforms and ephemeral messaging apps.
Critics argue it lacks the teeth to compel tech companies to act. The tragedy in San Diego should be a wake-up call. We need a digital sovereignty approach: laws that mandate transparency in recommendation algorithms and impose liability for platforms that host hate content targeting religious groups.
The user experience of society cannot be sacrificed for the sake of 'free speech' absolutism. As we mourn with San Diego, we must act to ensure our own youth are not lost to the same dark rabbit holes.
