New York, NY, June 23, 1999…Extremists and racists are creating an "electronic community of hate" that specifically targets children with its propaganda, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Poisoning the Web: Hatred Online documents how bigots communicate on the Internet easily, inexpensively, and sometimes anonymously with hundreds of fellow extremists and others. The ADL report exposes long-time haters with records of violence as among those who are reaching out to children online. Along with updates on the traditional hate groups such as the KKK, Neo-Nazi skinheads, the National Alliance and many others, ADL reports on the dangers of online bomb-making manuals, the role of women in white supremacy online, and anti-abortion extremism in cyberspace.

"While the Internet provides us with extraordinary possibilities for communication in today’s fast-paced age of information, it is also an ideal tool for spreading hate. Our findings show that conspiracy-laden anti-Semitism continues to be a prominent theme on hate Web sites. Cowards can hide in the Web’s anonymity while reaching out to the most vulnerable members of our society," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Poisoning the Web is the result of the constant vigilance of ADL’s Internet Monitoring Unit at scrutinizing the Web. Our aim is to expose haters and help parents assist their to children make intelligent and informed decisions about whom they let into their homes and offices."

According to Poisoning the Web, the World Church of the Creator "Kids!" Site - subtitled "Creativity for Children!" - utilizes enticing graphics and child-friendly language to lure young Web users. Available at the "Kids!" site are "coloring pages" and "crossword puzzles." Children are urged to "have fun" solving these puzzles while helping "educate" themselves "in the Creed of Creativity." Kids are encouraged to E-mail the site so that Creators can "answer any questions" they might have.

"With summer well on the way, our youth are spending more time in front of the computer, increasing their chances of encountering the hate and bigotry that is so readily accessible. Now is the time to arm ourselves with information," said Howard P. Berkowitz, ADL National Chairman. "Extremists are trying to seduce our children with multimedia on-line messages designed to mask the hideous face of hatred and violence and attract and influence young people. This is why ADL continues to create resources such as Poisoning the Web and the ADL HateFilter™ to help children safely navigate the net by providing them with the necessary tools to tell good information from bad information."

Poisoning the Web provides the historical background of hate online, current trends gathered by the ADL Internet Monitoring Unit, legal and societal implications and suggestions for counteracting online hatred. ADL exposes the perpetrators of "cyber hate" and juxtaposes their recent activities online with their long histories of hate and their records of violence.

Before the Internet, many extremists worked in relative isolation, forced to make a concerted effort to connect with others who shared their ideology. Today, on the Internet, bigots communicate more easily and inexpensively with hundreds of fellow extremists, reinforcing each other’s hateful convictions.

• White supremacist Don Black claims that Web surfers have accessed his site Stormfront more than a million times since its debut.
• National Alliance (NA) members correspond privately via E-mail not only with potential recruits, but also with each other. The organization claims to have established a "Rapid Response Team (RRT), which gathers information or quickly alerts other NA members when an "emergency arises."
• Like other white supremacist groups, the KKK has turned to the Internet as a means to revitalize their movement and attract a new cadre of supporters and activists. One Klan member is quoted as saying, "Up until last month, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Realm of Florida was very small. But now we have a website up, and our numbers are growing dramatically."

Also featured in the report are answers to "10 Frequently Asked Questions About Law and Hate on the Internet" including:

• What kind of hate speech on the Internet is not protected by the First Amendment?
• Has anyone ever been successfully prosecuted in the United States for sending racist threats via E-mail?
• Has anyone ever been held liable in the United States for encouraging acts of violence on the World Wide Web?
• Can hate crimes laws be used against hate on the Internet?
• What are Internet ‘filters’ and when is their use appropriate?

Poisoning the Web is the latest in a series of reports on this topic published by ADL, the leading authority on hate on the Internet. Previous publications include High-Tech Hate: Extremist Use of the Internet, Warning Hate Zone: A Parent’s Guide and The Web of Hate. Other relevant ADL materials include 101 Ways to Make Your Community a Prejudice-Free Zone, and What to Tell Your Child About Prejudice and Discrimination.

ADL recently released a first-of-its-kind educational filter software product. ADL HateFilter provides users not only with the option of screening out hate sites, but is unique in that it also provides a link to obtain educational information about the anti-Semitic, racist and extremist individuals and groups who espouse their dangerous and divisive views on the Internet.

The ADL HateFilter can be downloaded to your computer from the ADL web site.

Editor’s Note: Toschedule an interview with an expert, please contact the Media Relations Department at (212) 885-7749 by e-mail adlmedia@adl.org.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.