Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Conclusion
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
Extremism is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex. Long-standing terrorist threats remain but new forms of extremism are emerging and give rise to growing concern. The impact of geo-political events is likely to intensify in light of continuing conflict in the Middle East. There has been a marked rise in …
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Extremism is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex. Long-standing terrorist threats remain but new forms of extremism are emerging and give rise to growing concern. The impact of geo-political events is likely to intensify in light of continuing conflict in the Middle East. There has been a marked rise in the prevalence of young people being drawn into extremism, often radicalised through a toxic mix of antisemitism, misogyny and conspiracy theories combining to form hybridised belief systems, nihilism and violence fascination. This has profound implications for national security, public order, and social cohesion. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the evolving nature of extremism and commits to publishing its first 'State of Extremism' report by the end of 2026, alongside increasing analytical resources for horizon scanning to identify and share information on emerging threats with partners.
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Home Office
5
Recommendation
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
The Online Safety Act contains gaps that limit government’s ability to address new forms of extremism, particularly when harmful content falls below criminal thresholds. We are concerned that smaller, high-risk platforms are not receiving sufficient regulatory scrutiny. Alongside more robust implementation and enforcement of the Online Safety Act, there is …
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The Online Safety Act contains gaps that limit government’s ability to address new forms of extremism, particularly when harmful content falls below criminal thresholds. We are concerned that smaller, high-risk platforms are not receiving sufficient regulatory scrutiny. Alongside more robust implementation and enforcement of the Online Safety Act, there is a clear need to equip children and adults with the skills required to critically analyse and interpret extremist content online. This should form part of a wider educational effort to strengthen social cohesion and build resilience to counter extremism both online and within our communities and we welcome the reforms to the national curriculum as a step in the right direction. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is already working with the education sector and national partners, providing resources on the Educate Against Hate website, and that the Prevent duty is a vital tool for safeguarding children.
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Home Office
6
Recommendation
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
The Home Office should engage more closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom to ensure effective implementation of measures around online safety for children and to ensure that extremist content is among the types of online harmful content that technology companies are expected to address and …
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The Home Office should engage more closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom to ensure effective implementation of measures around online safety for children and to ensure that extremist content is among the types of online harmful content that technology companies are expected to address and be held accountable for. In addition, the Home Office should lead a cross-government, multi- agency approach to shut down com networks, building on existing cooperation between law enforcement, security services, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other relevant departments and safeguarding partners. We expect the Home Office to update us on progress in its response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office is working closely with DSIT on the Children Online Wellbeing consultation and highlights the Online Safety Act's legal duties on providers to remove illegal content, including extremist material, with Ofcom as regulator. It also describes extensive ongoing multi-agency efforts, including a police-led …
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Home Office
7
Recommendation
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
We welcome the inclusion of enhanced digital and media literacy in the new curriculum. It should be embedded consistently across education settings and equip children with the skills to identify, analyse and scrutinise online 53 content, including the operation of algorithms and AI-generated material. We expect the Home Office to …
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We welcome the inclusion of enhanced digital and media literacy in the new curriculum. It should be embedded consistently across education settings and equip children with the skills to identify, analyse and scrutinise online 53 content, including the operation of algorithms and AI-generated material. We expect the Home Office to engage with the Department for Education to provide analysis and research to ensure that education materials keep pace with changes in technology and tactics used to spread extremism online. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63) Effective methods for identifying and intervening to combat new forms of extremism
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Government response AI summary
The government has committed to strengthening media literacy in the curriculum, published a Media Literacy Action Plan, and confirmed it will develop teacher training on counter-extremism media literacy. The Home Office also regularly provides analysis to the Department for Education to ensure educational materials keep …
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Home Office
9
Conclusion
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
Prevent is poorly adapted to deal with the digital world. We have outlined how online spaces are now central to the radicalisation process, particularly for young people, yet Prevent lacks the specialist knowledge or framework for identifying and assessing credible risk signals from online behaviour. Integration of Prevent into wider …
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Prevent is poorly adapted to deal with the digital world. We have outlined how online spaces are now central to the radicalisation process, particularly for young people, yet Prevent lacks the specialist knowledge or framework for identifying and assessing credible risk signals from online behaviour. Integration of Prevent into wider safeguarding systems is being hampered by poorly resourced, over-stretched and siloed agencies working against mis-aligned priorities. Against this backdrop, Prevent has become a fast track to support, even where concerns are not terrorism- related, and particularly in relation to accessing mental health support. (Conclusion, Paragraph 89)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the challenges of online radicalisation and states the Home Office and Counter-Terrorism Police are adapting, working with tech companies, and implementing the Online Safety Act. It also commits to bringing forward new legislation this parliamentary session to tackle violence-fixated individuals and to …
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Home Office
12
Recommendation
7th Report – Combatting new forms of ex…
Accepted
The Home Office should assign greater priority to countering extremism and work alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, other relevant departments, and local authorities to implement the social cohesion strategy. It is vital that the Home Office reviews the suite of counter-extremism measures that sit outside the …
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The Home Office should assign greater priority to countering extremism and work alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, other relevant departments, and local authorities to implement the social cohesion strategy. It is vital that the Home Office reviews the suite of counter-extremism measures that sit outside the counter-terrorism infrastructure, with a view to expanding its approaches for early intervention and ensuring consistency across the country to identify and intervene to counter extremism. Efforts should be coordinated with programmes such as Prevent but counter-extremism efforts should not exist only as part of counter-terrorism efforts. We expect the Home Office to set out its role and responsibilities for delivering on the government’s new social cohesion strategy, including how it is coordinating its work with other departments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 101) 55
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Government response AI summary
The government has announced a 'fundamental reset' of its counter-extremism approach, including expanding the Extremism Disruptions team, increasing efforts to stop hate preachers, and updating engagement principles. It commits to delivering this work in partnership with other government departments and local authorities, and will establish …
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Home Office