AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS AND THE INTERNET

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000555

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTFN ETTC EFIN UNSC PREL PTER
SUBJECT: AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS AND THE INTERNET


1. (SBU) The Security Council 1267 (al-Qaida/Taliban)
Sanctions Committee discussed on June 25 al-Qaida's misuse of
the Internet to recruit, fundraise, train, spread propaganda,
and plan terrorist attacks. The Committee Chairman
structured the debate around a Monitoring Team paper on the
issue (sent to IO/PSC via email) and focused Committee
members on how to use the current sanctions measures to
prevent listed individuals and entities from operating,
either directly or indirectly, terrorist websites.


2. (SBU) The Monitoring Team paper highlights cases in which
listed individuals register and run their own websites - a
clear violation of the assets freeze provision of the 1267
sanctions regime. Other cases of websites dedicated to, but
not controlled by, sanctioned individuals and/or entities
also appear to constitute support for al-Qaida, Usama bin
Laden, the Taliban, and their associates and therefore could
be subject to the sanctions measures.


3. (SBU) France, Italy, and Russia strongly supported the
Monitoring Team paper and many of the recommendations
contained therein. The UK, Congo, and Qatar expressed
interest in continuing to study the matter. Indonesia and
USUN stressed the importance of protecting freedom of speech,
but at the same time acknowledged that the current sanctions
measures do afford the Committee an opportunity to take
action.


4. (SBU) Delegations coalesced around the Monitoring Team
recommendation that the Committee provide guidance to States
on how to use OP20 of resolution 1735 (2006) as a tool to
combat al-Qaida's criminal misuse of the Internet. OP20
stresses that the assets freeze applies to the provision of
Internet hosting and related services. The Committee plans
to continue its discussion of the Monitoring Team paper and
agree on a plan of action.
KHALILZAD