The rapid growth of the Internet raises many difficult political, legal and social questions. Hate sites are proliferating unchallenged, and Holocaust denial is the fastest growing anti-Semitic theme.

More of the well-known extremist groups, such as the KKK, are now on the Web, and many are using continuously more sophisticated technology. Small cells of militia and "common law court" groups, for instance, rapidly spread their anti-government conspiracy theories, as well as create a major clearinghouse for guns and other threatening materials.

How does a democratic society reconcile free speech with the proliferation of such pernicious venom? How can inquiring students distinguish between scrupulous scholarship by Martin Gilbert, for instance, and Holocaust denial from Bradley Smith when they access "Holocaust" on the Internet?

ADL has been in the forefront of wrestling with these complex questions -- monitoring the Web, disseminating information, organizing panels of experts, and debating cyberspace law.

Most notably, ADL has had the vision and courage to develop a voluntary Web site filter that will allow parents to identify and block certain hate sites, without compromising free speech. In conjunction with The Learning Company (TLC), ADL is creating a version of TLC's Cyber Patrol^® software which will offer parents an option of screening out hate sites and educating children about the dangers of prejudice.

In addition, the League is serving as advisor to the U.S. Department of Justice's "Hateful Acts Hurt Kids" Web site for children (www.usdoj.gov) by providing "Responding to Prejudice in the Classroom" from the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute's Elementary Guide.

RESOURCES

High-Tech Hate: Extremist Use of the Internet. This comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the extensive exploitation of the Internet by a wide range of extremists and bigots was prepared by the Research Department.

ADL Online. The League's Web site ( www.adl.org ) is a robust hub for breaking news on ADL issues as well as an in-depth research center for media, students, teachers, parents and the general public. Anti-Semitic incidents can be reported immediately, ADL on the Frontline and other publications accessed quickly, and communication with ADL's National Headquarters in New York, its Regional and Satellite Offices across the country, as well as Jerusalem and Vienna, is unlimited.

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Extremism on the Internet. Backgrounder on extremists' use of high technology beginning with the Aryan Nations' Louis Beam a decade ago.