Why Monitor Violent Websites? A Justification

Abstract

The authors argue that the international community should continue working together to devise rules for monitoring specific Internet sites, as human lives are at stake. Preemptive measures could prevent the translation of murderous thoughts into murderous actions. Designated monitoring mechanisms for certain websites that promote violence and seek adherents for the actualization of murderous thoughts could potentially prevent such unfortunate events. Our intention is to draw the attention of the international community’s multi-agents (law-enforcement agencies, governments, the business sector, including Internet Service Providers, websites administrators and owners, civil society groups) to the urgent need of developing monitoring schemes for certain websites, in order to prevent violent crimes.

Keywords: Internet Monitoring, Violent Websites, Dawson College Massacre, Jokela High School Massacre, Internet Governance, Kimveer Gill, VampireFreaks.com, Virginia Tech Massacre, Red Lake High School Massacre

JEL Classification: Z00