According to announcements from the British Home Office, “extreme misogyny”, often caused by online activity, will be prosecuted and perceived as a manifestation of terrorism. According to the ministry, it manifests itself through the so-called incel culture. Online commentators are outraged because the definitions are too vague and this is yet another case in the UK where the state decides to arbitrarily decide on freedom of expression.
As reported by The Guardian, “extreme misogyny” will be treated as a form of terrorism for the first time. Under the proposals, teachers would be legally required to refer students suspected of extreme misogyny to Prevent, the UK government’s anti-terrorism programme.
As reported by the Sunday Telegraph, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has ordered a review of the counter-terrorism strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, identify gaps in current legislation and examine emerging ideologies.
For too long, governments have failed to address the rise of extremism, both online and on our streets, and the number of young people radicalised online is growing. Hate speech of any kind causes fissures and ruptures in the fabric of our communities and our democracy.
Cooper said.
Action against extremism has been severely curtailed in recent years, just when it should be most needed
she continued.
That is why I have directed the Home Office to undertake rapid analytical work on extremism to map and monitor extremist trends, to understand the evidence of what is working to disrupt and divert people from extremist views, and to identify any gaps in existing policy that need to be addressed to deal with those who promote harmful and hateful beliefs and violence.
– added the Labour MP.
What does “extreme misogyny” mean?
At this point, the exact definition of extreme misogyny is unknown, but the UK Home Office highlights several examples.
There are several classified categories of extremism, including “incel” or “involuntary celibate,” an online subculture in which a misogynistic worldview is promoted by men who blame women for their lack of sexual opportunities.
This category, however, is not clear and, in itself, certainly cannot constitute the basis for such radical actions.
Gender-based hostility would be difficult to prove in court, with misogyny (or misandry) often manifesting itself in subtle and deep-seated ways, and it would therefore be difficult to illustrate that such hostility was objectively demonstrated or formed part of the motivation for the crime.
– we can read on the gov.uk website dedicated to recognising misogyny as a “hate crime”: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 fact sheet).
The Internet is a source of problems
Last month, a police officer warned that internet influencers like Andrew Tate could radicalise young men and women into extreme misogyny, in the same way that terrorists attract their supporters.
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, national lead for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), said boys being influenced online was “quite frightening”.
She said the Online Safety Act must go further and faster action must be taken to protect children.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has published a report on violence against women and girls, calling it a national emergency.
Incidents included verbal harassment of female teachers or other students.
Comments from Internet users
The measures announced by the Ministry of the Interior have been met with strong criticism from internet users. The definitions and scope of “hate crimes” and “extreme misogyny” are unclear, as is the designation of “incels” as a terrorist threat.
Do I think any misogyny will be exempt?
– writes one of the internet users, posting a photo of the Labour Party campaign hall where, according to Muslim custom, men and women are seated separately.
Who defines extreme? Who defines misogyny? Let me guess
‘Compassionate’ demented left-wing radical
Group B (mental disorders)
Women
—wrote psychologist Jordan Peterson on the X platform.
The UK government is proposing to treat “extreme misogyny” as a form of terrorism. Teachers would be required to report misogynistic students to government authorities. Heartbreak. Given the recent news, I’m starting to think there’s a lot of freedom of speech in the UK.
– we read in a sarcastic entry by American political commentator Richard Hanania.
