US brainstorming technology strategy to prevent terrorists exploiting Internet to mobilize, facilitate and operationalize attacks

White House officials are drafting a presidential directive from President Trump that calls on his newly appointed defense secretary to take a more aggressive approach to attacking ISIS fighters in Syria. The New York Times reported  that Trump is expected to make his first visit to the Pentagon Friday and will call on Secretary James Mattis to present new options within 30 days.

The recent Paris and San Bernardino attacks focused attention on Islamic State (IS or ISIL) militants’ use of technology to plot attacks and incite followers to carry out violence – and potentially escape detection from law enforcement. ISIS has become sophisticated at using Western approaches to radicalize and entice followers using social media and the Web.