London Schools Launch Digital Extremism Training to Combat Online Radicalisation

As students return for the new school year in London, a fresh initiative is being launched to train pupils in detecting and resisting the spread of online extremism. Spearheaded by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the programme includes instruction on how to challenge anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate.

New funding has been made available through the Shared Endeavour Fund, which has received £875,000 ($1.2 million) to tackle misinformation, prejudice, and intolerance across London’s communities and online spaces. This funding will finance several projects, including workshops run by Tech Against Terrorism aimed at helping secondary school pupils identify extremist content online.

Adam Hadley, founder and chief executive of Tech Against Terrorism, told The National that a significant proportion of individuals being radicalised into terrorism are young people. He noted that the organisation has developed practical workshops to equip children with critical reasoning skills.

According to Mr Hadley, the workshops also focus on the risks posed by AI-generated content and unsafe chatbots that can expose children to extremist material. He highlighted a growing trend of increased violence among children who are radicalised online without necessarily aligning with a traditional ideology.

The UK’s Prevent counter-radicalisation programme previously came under scrutiny regarding cases involving extreme violence, such as that of Axel Rudakubana. Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing in London, stated that officers are encountering record numbers of children, emphasising the need for a coordinated effort to identify risks early.

In addition to Tech Against Terrorism, funding will support the Stand UP! Education Against Discrimination project, run jointly by the Community Security Trust (CST) and Tell Mama, to deliver classroom workshops on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate. The Thoughtful project will also receive funding to train teachers in helping young people reject hate and intolerance.

Mr Khan highlighted recent statistics showing increases in recorded hate incidents, emphasising that the Shared Endeavour Fund provides people with the tools to recognise and stand up to intolerance in order to build a safer London.