IS Cracks Down on Private Internet Accounts
Lesson Brief
Al Sharq Al Awsat
On July 20, Al Sharq Al Awsat reported that IS is cracking down on private internet and Wifi in its stronghold, Riqqa Province in Syria. The new policy reportedly prevents internet providers from giving out private internet subscriptions, even to IS members; instead internet access will be limited to internet cafes, where the terrorist group can monitor internet activity. The rules were reportedly announced to the local residents via leaflets leaked by an activist group called using the hashtag (translated) #Riqqa-slaughtered-silently. Activist groups are calling it part of a media blackout seeking to prevent IS members from communicating with their families and to prevent communication with intelligence agencies.
IS appears to use lesser-used IT terms such as النت الفضائي for "wireless internet" and ناشر which appears to mean "router" (normally جهاز التوجيه).